Dayro d'Yoldath Aloho 

Dayro d'Yoldath Aloho 

Dayro d'Yoldath Aloho or the St. Meryemana (Mary) Monastery is located near the village of Hah northeast of Midyat, amidst settlements like Boqusyono and Estrako in Turkey. The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, or Mother of God. Local legend attributes its origin to twelve wise men (Magi) who built a monument to the Virgin Mary after a miracle involving a piece of infant Jesus' swaddling cloth, which later became the monastery of the Mother of God (Yoldath Aloho).

It is believed to have been built around 450 AD and subsequently expanded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the following century. Architectural and religious data suggest that the church was constructed on the foundations of a pagan temple. Some sources claim it is the only extant Syriac church from the 1st to 2nd centuries, though one source suggests this date may be apocryphal. Andrew Palmer proposes that the size of the original settlement around the church indicates it may have been the site of the first bishopric of Tur Abdin, under a bishop named 'Ammi. The church is divided into three sections: a sacred area, the nave, and the narthex.45 Its architecture includes a cloister dome, believed to date back to the 6th century, and exhibits similarities with Armenian and Georgian architecture, alongside local influences from pagan temples. Additions to its architecture were made as late as the 20th century to accommodate the worshipping needs of villagers. Historically, it was the largest church in Tur Abdin, serving as a prototype for other churches in the region.The Meryem Ana Kilisesi was constructed under Patriarch Cercis II (1686-1708 AD) and features a handcrafted 17th-century altar and inscriptions in Syriac. The monastery is included in the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage designation.46

It is currently serving as the religious center for the remaining Syriac Christians of the village. The monastery also operates a school for Syriac children and continues to host baptism ceremonies. It highlights the vital, multi-faceted role of these smaller monasteries. Unlike the larger patriarchal seats, these institutions serve as direct anchors for local Christian communities, providing not only spiritual services but also essential educational and social support. This demonstrates how these sites are crucial for daily life and cultural transmission within the surviving Syriac villages, effectively acting as indispensable community hubs.

During the Sayfo genocide, Syriac people sought refuge in the village from places such as Karburan and Shehirkan.