Dayro d'Mor Abhai

Dayro d'Mor Abhai

Also called the Monastery of the Ladders, is on the right bank of the Euphrates, a half-hour journey from the village of 'Urbish, near Karkar. Its location in an isolated regions, reflects the historical patterns of Syriac Christian settlement. These remote locations offered a degree of protection during times of persecution and conflict, allowing the monastic communities to maintain their way of life and continue their religious practices. It was established sometime after the fifth century and was first mentioned by historians in the beginning of the ninth century. It produced one Patriarch and fourteen bishops. It was inhabited until the beginning of the eighteenth century. Some of its ruins are still standing.

It is named after Mar Abhai, a revered saint in the Syriac Christian tradition. The monastery, like many others in the region, has played an important role in preserving and promoting Syriac culture, language, and religious traditions.

Dayro Mor Abhai has served not only as a place of worship but also as a center of learning. Monks in the monastery have historically been involved in the production and preservation of manuscripts, contributing to the rich literary heritage of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The monastery's role in education and scholarship has helped to ensure the continuity of Syriac intellectual and spiritual traditions.