Aphrahat was a Syriac-Christian author of the 4th century from the Adiabene region of Northern Mesopotamia, which was within the Persian Empire, who composed a series of twenty-three expositions or homilies on points of Christian doctrine and practice.Not sure where the building in the photo is located, either in Tur Abdin or just south of it, in Nusaybin.
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Aphrahat was a Syriac-Christian author of the 4th century from the Adiabene region of Northern Mesopotamia, which was within the Persian Empire, who composed a series of twenty-three expositions or homilies on points of Christian doctrine and practice.

Not sure where the building in the photo is located, either in Tur Abdin or just south of it, in Nusaybin.

The monk on the photo is Raban Yokin Unval, standing on the roof of the Monastery of Mor Augin in Izlo in southern Tur Abdin, looking down to the borders of Syria. There is a significant number of works on spirituality, variously attributed in the manuscripts to John the Solitary, John of Apamea, or (incorrectly) John of Lycopolis (or Thebes, died ca. 394). It seems likely that John the Solitary and John of Apamea are two names for the same person, who seems to have lived in the first half of the 5th century.
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The monk on the photo is Raban Yokin Unval, standing on the roof of the Monastery of Mor Augin in Izlo in southern Tur Abdin, looking down to the borders of Syria.

There is a significant number of works on spirituality, variously attributed in the manuscripts to John the Solitary, John of Apamea, or (incorrectly) John of Lycopolis (or Thebes, died ca. 394). It seems likely that John the Solitary and John of Apamea are two names for the same person, who seems to have lived in the first half of the 5th century.

The Book of Steps is an anonymous Syriac treatise on spiritual direction, probably written in the late 4th century AD (or possibly early 5th century). The ancient Church of Mor Dimet (Saint Demetrius) in the village of Zaz in Tur Abdin, where there are no Syriac Orthodox families left, is guarded by the old monk in the photo, Ya’qub (Jacob), and a nun.
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The Book of Steps is an anonymous Syriac treatise on spiritual direction, probably written in the late 4th century AD (or possibly early 5th century).

The ancient Church of Mor Dimet (Saint Demetrius) in the village of Zaz in Tur Abdin, where there are no Syriac Orthodox families left, is guarded by the old monk in the photo, Ya’qub (Jacob), and a nun.

The Syriac Orthodox Church celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary today (March 25th). We have a tradition that I believe is only done in our Church where we put on a so called “siboro” around our wrist. This “siboro” consists of a white thread and a red thread winded (I hope this is a real word) around each other. When Virgin Mary became pregnant the Divine nature (God the Word; the white thread) united with the human nature (the red thread) which God the Word took from Virgin Mary through the holy Spirit’s action. One Nature was formed (without mixture, change), etc. We wear the “siboro” from March 25th (the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) until Easter Monday (or Easter Day) when we clip it off and burn it.
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The Syriac Orthodox Church celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary today (March 25th). We have a tradition that I believe is only done in our Church where we put on a so called “siboro” around our wrist. This “siboro” consists of a white thread and a red thread winded (I hope this is a real word) around each other.

When Virgin Mary became pregnant the Divine nature (God the Word; the white thread) united with the human nature (the red thread) which God the Word took from Virgin Mary through the holy Spirit’s action. One Nature was formed (without mixture, change), etc.

We wear the “siboro” from March 25th (the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) until Easter Monday (or Easter Day) when we clip it off and burn it.

Two great Patriarchs of the Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Yacoub III of Antioch (+1980) and H.H. Pope Kyrillos VI of Alexandria (+1971). Between them is former Egyptian president Nasser. Yacoub III wrote about the Syriac Church: “Ethnicity: The forerunners among the civilized nations of the first centuries. Its ancestors were the ancient Assyrians and Arameans who gave humanity knowledge and craft.” in his book “History of the Syriac Church of Antioch”.
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Two great Patriarchs of the Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Yacoub III of Antioch (+1980) and H.H. Pope Kyrillos VI of Alexandria (+1971). Between them is former Egyptian president Nasser.

Yacoub III wrote about the Syriac Church:

“Ethnicity: The forerunners among the civilized nations of the first centuries. Its ancestors were the ancient Assyrians and Arameans who gave humanity knowledge and craft.”

in his book “History of the Syriac Church of Antioch”.

The monastery of Mor Hananyo, also known as Kurkmo Dayro (in Syriac) or Deir ez-Za’faran (in Arabic) meaning the “Saffron Monastery”, is situated some five kilometers east of Mardin (in South eastern Turkey), in a shallow basin half-way up the side of the mountain ridge. This is one of the most known and ancient structure of Upper Mesopotamia, and the religious center of the Süryani Kadim (Syrian Orthodox) Community. The origins of this imposing monastery goes back to the 5th century; mosaics remaining from that period have still been present. From 1293 until 1932 it was the official seat of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East. Tradition associates the monastery’s foundation with a certain Shleymun (Solomon), about whom little or nothing is known. The name “Saffron monastery” is said to derive from the saffron dye used in the building’s plaster-work; the correct name, however, is the “Monastery of Mor Hananyo (St. Ananias)” who was the Metropolitan of Kfartuta (793-800). It was he who renovated the monastery buildings after a period of decline in 793. (Source: SyrianChurch.org)
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The monastery of Mor Hananyo, also known as Kurkmo Dayro (in Syriac) or Deir ez-Za’faran (in Arabic) meaning the “Saffron Monastery”, is situated some five kilometers east of Mardin (in South eastern Turkey), in a shallow basin half-way up the side of the mountain ridge. This is one of the most known and ancient structure of Upper Mesopotamia, and the religious center of the Süryani Kadim (Syrian Orthodox) Community. The origins of this imposing monastery goes back to the 5th century; mosaics remaining from that period have still been present. From 1293 until 1932 it was the official seat of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East. Tradition associates the monastery’s foundation with a certain Shleymun (Solomon), about whom little or nothing is known.

The name “Saffron monastery” is said to derive from the saffron dye used in the building’s plaster-work; the correct name, however, is the “Monastery of Mor Hananyo (St. Ananias)” who was the Metropolitan of Kfartuta (793-800). It was he who renovated the monastery buildings after a period of decline in 793.

(Source: SyrianChurch.org)

The trailer for a new Suryoyo documentary named “Shlomo. The lost land”. From the description of the video:

SHLOMO. The lost land
an investigation film of Stefano Rogliatti and Matteo Spicuglia
50 minutes

Tur Abdin does not exist on maps. Turkey deep, predominantly Kurdish southeast, high Mesopotamia on the border with Syria. Tur Abdin is the birthplace of Arameans, an ancient christian people, the only one who still speak Aramaic. “Shlomo” is his greeting of peace. Language, culture and religion: the roots of identity at risk of extinction. Until a century ago, in Tur Abdin the Arameans were over 500 thousand, today there are barely 2500. Victims of the tragedies of the last century, fleeing from a country marked by conflict and discrimination.
The reporters Stefano Rogliatti and Matteo Spicuglia have documented wounds and hopes of those who were forced to flee, those who have witnessed the death of family and friends, who today is likely to feel like a foreigner at home. Stories, faces and testimonies firsts for the Italian public, opening an insight into the present and the future of all minorities in the Middle East. “Shlomo. The lost land” was filmed in the summer and autumn of 2011 in Tur Abdin and Istanbul, Turkey and Gutersloh, Germany. 

EU ‘seriously concerned’ about Mor Gabriel Monastery

The European Union has stated that it is “seriously concerned” about a court decision on the Mor Gabriel Monastery in Mardin.

The spokesman for Stefan Füle, the commissioner responsible for the Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy said the commission was concerned both about the verdict and about the fact that the litigation against the monastery had been started by state authorities.

Speaking to Today’s Zaman, spokesperson Peter Stano said the commission was deeply concerned regarding the decision made by the Civil General Assembly of the Court of Cassation against the monastery. “The commission is also concerned that the litigation on such issues is instigated by judicial actions launched by state institutions,” noted Stano.

Bearing in mind that Turkey is a candidate country negotiating its accession to the EU, Stano said it had to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of all citizens. He also announced that the commission would follow cases closely regarding the property rights of the Aramaen (Syriac) community and in particular of the monastery.

Last week the Supreme Court of Appeals threw out a petition by the Mor Gabriel Monastery to re-examine a decision handed down by its 20th Chamber, which ruled that the monastery is occupying state land even though it has been paying taxes on that land for decades. The local court has also twice ruled in favor of the monastery.

Source: todayszaman.com