Mount Izla
Encyclopedia
Mt. Izla also Mountain of Nisibis, or briefly in the 9th century, Mt. Kashyari, is a low mountain or ridge near Nisibis
in what once was Sassanid Persia, but is now southeastern Turkey
, along the border with Syria
. The ridge is the location of dozens of ancient monasteries which were built in the early centuries of Christianity. In modern times, all of the monasteries are in ruins except for that of Saint Melke, Mor Malke Monastery.
Though called a mountain, it is actually a 48 miles (77.2 km)-long ridge running from east to west, with a plateau on the northern (Turkey) side, and a plain on the southern (Syria) side. One end of the ridge is Dara
, a Roman fortification. On the other is Serwan (Sisaranon), the location of the Castle of Tur Abdin
, which was built by King Constantius in the 4th century.
Early monasteries, believed to have been founded in the 4th century, are Mar Awgin, Mar Malke, and Mar Samuel. The next was the most famous, Mar Abraham of Kashkar, also known as the Great Monastery, which was founded in the latter part of the 6th century. Later monasteries included that of Rabban Sapra, Mar Yaret, Mar Khudahwi, Za'faran (Saffron
), Mar Yohannan the Arab, and Mar Ya'qob. At its peak, there were approximately 40,000 monks on Mt. Izla.
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
in what once was Sassanid Persia, but is now southeastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, along the border with Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. The ridge is the location of dozens of ancient monasteries which were built in the early centuries of Christianity. In modern times, all of the monasteries are in ruins except for that of Saint Melke, Mor Malke Monastery.
Though called a mountain, it is actually a 48 miles (77.2 km)-long ridge running from east to west, with a plateau on the northern (Turkey) side, and a plain on the southern (Syria) side. One end of the ridge is Dara
Dara (Mesopotamia)
Dara or Daras was an important East Roman fortress city in northern Mesopotamia on the border with the Sassanid Empire. Because of its great strategic importance, it featured prominently in the Roman-Persian conflicts of the 6th century, with the famous Battle of Dara taking place before its walls...
, a Roman fortification. On the other is Serwan (Sisaranon), the location of the Castle of Tur Abdin
Tur Abdin
Tur Abdin is a hilly region of south east Turkey incorporating the eastern half of Mardin Province, and Şırnak Province west of the Tigris, on the border with Syria. The name 'Tur Abdin' is from the Syriac language meaning 'mountain of the servants '. Tur Abdin is of great importance to Syriac...
, which was built by King Constantius in the 4th century.
Early monasteries, believed to have been founded in the 4th century, are Mar Awgin, Mar Malke, and Mar Samuel. The next was the most famous, Mar Abraham of Kashkar, also known as the Great Monastery, which was founded in the latter part of the 6th century. Later monasteries included that of Rabban Sapra, Mar Yaret, Mar Khudahwi, Za'faran (Saffron
Saffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...
), Mar Yohannan the Arab, and Mar Ya'qob. At its peak, there were approximately 40,000 monks on Mt. Izla.
Notable residents
- Saint Augin
- Saint Abraham the Great of KashkarAbraham the Great of KashkarAbraham the Great of Kashkar was the father of the Assyrian monastic revival in the 6th century. He is hailed as a doctor and saint of the Assyrian Church of the East....
, 6th century founder of the Assyrian monastic revival - Babai the GreatBabai the GreatBabai the Great was an early church father of the Church of the East. He set several of the foundational pillars of the Church, revived the monastic movement, and formulated its Christology in a systematic way. He served as an unofficial head of the Nestorian Church from 611 to 628 AD, leaving a...