Dayro d'Qenneshrin

Dayro d'Qenneshrin

It was built in the name of the Apostle Thomas on the bank of the Euphrates, opposite Jarabulus, about 530 and it was called Qenneshrin (The Eagle's Nest). It was a famous monastery and was renowned for its school, which contributed significantly to Syriac literary and intellectual life until the ninth century and at its high point housed about 370 monks. It was burned by some dissenters, but was restored by Patriarch Dionysius I Tell Maher in 822. By 930, seven patriarchs and fifteen bishops had graduated from it. About 1025 it was attached to the diocese of Samosata. It is probable that it remained active until the thirteenth century, after which it was abandoned. 

The School of Qenneshrin was particularly famous for its scholarship, attracting students and intellectuals from various regions. It played a crucial role in translating and preserving Greek philosophical and scientific works into Syriac, facilitating the transmission of knowledge to the Syriac-speaking world and beyond. The legacy of Qenneshre endures through the works of its scholars and its impact on Syriac intellectual history.

Qenneshrin's significance stemmed from its comprehensive curriculum, which included theology, philosophy, medicine, and the sciences. The scholars at Qenneshrin produced numerous important works, including translations, commentaries, and original treatises, contributing to the flourishing of Syriac literature and thought during the Middle Ages.