Source: Voice of Tur `Abdin

Southeast of Midyat, the monastery of Mar Gabriel is the geographical and spiritual centre of the plateau, and - if darkness is approaching - also the safest place of refuge in the area. To get there, leave Midyat on the half-paved, half-gravel Cizre-bound road; after 20 km, just before an unmarked village, turn northeast onto a similarly unsign-posted dirt driveway, which leads to the monastery gate in just over 2 km.

Founded in 397 AD, Mar Gabriel is not only the oldest surviving Syrian Orthodox monastery, but the most vital in Turkey, with seven nuns and four monks occupying separate wings, as well as a fluctuating number of local lay workers and guests from overseas. It is also the seat of the metropolitan bishop of Turabdin, who speaks good English, and with whom you may be granted an audience.

Compared with the showcase of Deir ez-Za`feran, Mar Gabriel is a working community set amongst gardens and orchards, and somewhat disfigured by a 1960s-vintage hostelry. The monastery's primary purpose is to keep Syrian Orthodox Christianity alive in the land of its birth by providing schooling, ordination of native-born monks, and - if necessary - physical protection to the faithful. You visit for the ooportunity to gain some insight into the church - provided by an informative pamphlet in English - and secondarily to stay at night, for which you need to ask permission. This will be readily granted late in the day, since the heavy steel gates of what in effect is a fortress are locked tightly at sunset, not opening until dawn except for life-or-death emergencies. The high walls of the compound have retained their medieval function as barriers to marauders, since the Syrian Orthodox communities of the Turabdin live in fear of attacks from both the PKK and Islamic fanatics; the bishop receives regular phone calls from villagers requesting guidance as to how to respond to the latest provocation.

On summer nights, accomodation may be a simple cot in the terrace roof, with an equally basic evening meal provided. At dawn you are welcome to attend the liturgy conducted in the subterranean church underneath the belfry.

Source: Excerpt from Rough Guide

Further Reading:

• Ancient Tradition at Turkish Monastery Comes Under Siege
• Visit to the ancient monastery of Mar Gabriel
• Syriacs Migrating Home to S.E. Turkey (Turkish Daily News, Oct 25, 2000).