Mor Jakob d'Saleh Monastery
The Syrian Orthodox Monastery of Mor Jakob d'Saleh ( Aramaic ܕܝܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܕܨܠܚ, Mor Yakup Manastırı in Turkish ) is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. It is located in Tur Abdin in southeastern Turkey in the village of Saleh (Turkish: Barıştepe ) and is one of the monasteries of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch . It is not to be confused with the monasteries Mor Jakob Burd'ono (Atschane - Lebanon) (nunnery), Mor Jakob von Sarug (d'Qarno) (Mount Izlo - Tur Abdin) or Mor Jakob von Sarug (Warburg - Germany). Due to its similarity to the Mor Gabriel monastery , it is believed that it was built in 600 AD. It is also assumed that the stone block north of the monastery houses the remains of a pagan cult building. It is said to be an ancient temple complex of Heraclius and other deities. Two arches of this complex can still be seen today.
The monastery dedicated to St. Jacob Hbischoyo (the Reklusen) is one of the architectural treasures of Tur Abdin .
history
According to various sources, the monastery was built between 400 and 600 AD on a fertile plain below the village of Saleh . The monk Mor Yakub, who came from Alexandria (Egypt) and who founded the monastery on the site of the martyrdom of Mor Barschabo and his students, was named after and laid the foundation stone .
After the death of Mor Yakub in 421, the monastery flourished and was the seat of a bishop for a long time in the 7th and 8th centuries. From 1364 to 1839 the Patriarchs of Tur Abdin had their seat there, who were in a schism with the Patriarchs of Deyrulzafaran . This relationship led to an important Reformation for monasticism. The last schismatic patriarch Mas'ud II of Zaz was considered the last great West Syrian mystic and innovator of monasticism.
From 1916 to 1965 the monastery was abandoned and left to decay after the genocide of the Syrian Christians . After its reopening, the entire complex was thoroughly restored. Only a part of the original structure remains.
Patriarch in the monastery of Mor Jakob d'Saleh
| Patriarch in Saleh | Term of office |
|---|---|
|
Ignatius Sobo I. |
1364-1389 |
|
Ignatius Yeshu I. |
1389-1418 |
|
Ignatius Mas'ud I. |
1418-1420 |
|
Ignatius Henuh |
1421-1444 |
|
Ignatius Qaume |
1444-1456 |
|
Ignatius Yeshu II |
1454-1460 |
|
Ignatius' Aziz |
1460-1479 |
|
Ignatius Shabo |
1482-1488 |
|
Ignatius Yuhanun |
1482-1492 |
|
Ignatius Mas'ud II |
1492-1512 |
The monastery at the time of the genocide
The structure of the monastery was severely damaged in the course of the genocide, among other things by fire. Books, church inventory and manuscripts were either stolen or irreversibly destroyed.
Saint Jacob
According to a pious tradition, the Egyptian monk Jacob left Alexandria with a large number of his disciples to devote himself to asceticism. He reached Amida (Turkish: Diyarbakır ) and befriended the local monk Mor Bar Shabo (ܡܳܪܝ̱̱ ܒܰܪܫܰܒܳܐ) and his students. Mor Bar Shabo and his students were executed by Persian soldiers under the command of General Shamir in Saleh as an offering to the gods after he had conquered the region around 400 AD. The monk Jakob owed his life to the fact that he was viewed by the soldiers as dirty and undignified.
Five healing miracles are awarded to the monk Jacob. The monk spent his last days in Saleh accompanied by his disciple Benjamin.
The monastery was built on the site of the martyrdom. The residents of Saleh abandoned the pagan cults and became Christians.
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Life in the monastery
The monastery is inhabited by the monk Daniel (Syrian Doniyel [ܕܢܝܐܝܠ]) from the village of Beth-Kustan (Turkish: Alagöz ) and the nuns Hasme and Nisane. The residents prepare dishes such as bulgur from wheat . The agricultural goods include vineyards.
Interested guests are welcomed and shown around the monastery grounds. The history of the monastery and especially that of St. Jacob is brought closer to them.
architecture
The projecting main portal to the apse consists of two stone pilasters with capitals . The stone arch above shows doves and vines, which are known as ancient symbols, but symbolize Christian beliefs: The doves symbolize the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit through the vine Jesus Christ, with which Christians are connected like branches of a vine.
The space of the church is illuminated by four windows in the south wall and one on the north wall. Two painted stone arches divide the vault into three surfaces, which create a decorative image through the concentric arrangement of the bricks. Herringbone frames on the east and west sides, crosses and ribbons in simple colors increase the noble character.
The Mor Barschabo church is attached to the south side of the main church. In its construction it is similar to the main church and also has a simple decor.
literature
- Hans Hollerweger: Living cultural heritage - Turabdin: Where the language of Jesus is spoken. Initiative Christian Orient and Friends of Turabdin, 2nd edition (2000), p. 124 ff.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Mor Yakup (the Rekluse) ܩܕܝܫܐ ܡܪܝ̱ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܚܒܝܫܝܐ |. In: www.moryakupsalih.de. Retrieved April 9, 2016 .
- ↑ Patriarchate of Turabdin ܦܛܪܝܐܪܟܘܬܐ ܕܛܘܪܥܒܕܝܢ |. In: www.moryakupsalih.de. Retrieved April 9, 2016 .
- ↑ Mor Yakup (the Rekluse) ܩܕܝܫܐ ܡܪܝ̱ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܚܒܝܫܝܐ |. In: www.moryakupsalih.de. Retrieved April 9, 2016 .
Web links
Coordinates: 37 ° 28 ′ 59.8 ″ N , 41 ° 23 ′ 48 ″ E