Mor Gabriel Monastery

The Late Antique and Medieval Churches and Monasteries of the Mardin and Midyat Area (Tur Abdin) are on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The Mor Gabriel Monastery, also known as the Deyrulumur Monastery, is a historic structure located 23 kilometers from Midyat in Mardin, perched on a hill covered with oak trees. It is one of the most important places of worship for the Syriac Orthodox community. The monastery was founded in 397 by Mor Samuel and Mor Simon, and over time, various structures were added to both its interior and exterior. Mor Gabriel Monastery has witnessed numerous historical periods, serving as a Metropolitan Center in 615 and 1049. During the Eastern Roman period, with support from Emperors Arcadius and Theodosius, significant structures were added to the monastery, including the Virgin Mary Church, the Church of the Apostles, the Forty Martyrs Church, the Mor Samuel Shrine, the Dome of Theodora, and the Mor Simon Shrine. Older than the monasteries on Mount Athos in Greece by 400 years and the Mar Saba Monastery in Palestine by about 80 years, the Mor Gabriel Monastery is also known by its original name, Deyrulumur, derived from "Dayro d'Umro," meaning "Monastery of the Monks." The name Mor Gabriel, now commonly used, was given in honor of Mor Gabriel, who served as the Metropolitan of Tur Abdin in the 7th century.