Mar Mattai Monastery

Mar Mattai was founded in the fourth century by a monk fleeing persecution, and it stands at around a thousand metres on the slope of Mount Alfaf with a long view over the plain toward Mosul. It belongs to the Syriac Orthodox Church and is among the oldest monasteries anywhere still in use, holding a library of Syriac manuscripts that has survived repeated upheavals, and the tomb of Mar Mattai himself in a chamber below the church. The buildings are stone terraces stacked against the hillside with courtyards and a bell tower. A small community of monks lives there and receives visitors. The road up is steep and winding, and the site has been a refuge for the surrounding Christian population at various points in its long history.

History

The monastery was founded in 363 by Mor Mattai the Hermit, who had fled persecution in Amid under the emperor Julian with 25 other monks and settled on Mount Alfaf; Syriac tradition says he converted Mor Behnam and healed his sister Sarah. It became famous for its many monks and scholars and its large library of Syriac manuscripts, and it is now an archbishopric (Wikipedia, Mor Mattai Monastery).

The main sights

• The hillside terraces - stone buildings stacked against Mount Alfaf.
• The founder's tomb - Mar Mattai's burial chamber below the church.
• The manuscript library - Syriac books kept at the monastery.
• The plain view - the country toward Mosul from the terrace.

When to go

March to May for green hills and wildflowers, September to November for clear weather. Feast days bring pilgrims from the plain. The road can be difficult in winter rain.

What to expect

The road up is steep and narrow. Access to the library and some rooms depends on the monks and is not automatic. Modest dress is expected. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Mosul lies southwest; Mar Behnam is south.

Key facts