Dayro d'Mor Abrohom

Dayro d'Mor Abrohom

The monastery of Mar Abraham of Kashkar, famously known as the "Great Monastery" on Mount Izla, stands as a foundational pillar of Eastern Christian monasticism. Established in 571 AD by Abraham of Kashkar, the site is believed by some historians, such as Barsaum, to have been built upon the remains of an earlier 6th-century community known as Beth Gugi or Gugel. Abraham, an influential reformer often titled the "father of virgins and abstinent men," founded the monastery after a journey that took him from southern Iraq through Hirta, Mount Sinai, and Jerusalem, eventually leading him to the esteemed School of Nisibis. It was here on Mount Izla that he codified a monastic order consisting of twelve specific rules that would come to define the spiritual life of the Eastern Syriacs.

Architecturally, the monastery is a significant representative of 6th-century East Syrian design. Scholars like Mango have dated the church to this period based on the sophisticated and delicate sculptures surrounding its apse. The complex shares distinct structural similarities with other regional sites like Mor Awgin and Mor Yuhannon Tayyoyo, characterized by a sprawling network of building complexes and nearby caves. Despite its early origins as a central hub for the Assyrian Church of the East, the monastery’s jurisdiction shifted over time; by the 19th century, it had passed to the Western Syriacs, who undertook restoration efforts recorded in an 1854 inscription. While monks were still present as late as 1911 during Hinrichs' visit, the site has since fallen into a state of ruin.

The "Great Monastery" was far more than an isolated retreat; it served as the "parent and metropolis" of monastic life, exporting its strict reformist traditions across Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Persia. Its influence was so vast that it effectively shaped the character of monasticism throughout the East, acting as a center for theological and disciplinary leadership. Geographically, it is situated at approximately 37.333333°N 41.166667°E on Mount Izla, overlooking the Mesopotamian Plain near the strategic city of Nisibis.

Today, the site faces significant preservation challenges. As it is currently in ruins and not well-preserved, there is an urgent need for full-scale documentation to address the causes of its deterioration. Current conservation recommendations emphasize the necessity of emergency actions, including blocking water infiltration, repairing flat roofs, and securing free-standing walls against the encroaching vegetation that threatens the remaining 6th-century masonry. 

Status: In ruins