Dair Mar Elia An Ancient monk community

Photo By Spc. Leigh Campbell | Dair Mar Elia is monastery that was originated in the late 500's. The monastery had gone un-occupied for several years and became severely deteriorated and buried. The monastery was then re-occupied in the 1500's and was rebuilt. The build that is currently on site now is no older then late 1500's.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

06.02.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq (May 31, 2006) --An ancient monastery where 25 monks once lived, sits within the perimeter of Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq.

Dair Mar Elia, was once a sanctuary for monks, now it is a run-down building needing many repairs. Coalition Forces protect the building from further damage to insure its historical significance is preserved.

"The information I have, the most reliable date for the original Monastery was 575 C.E. [Common Era]," said Chaplin Jonathan Landon, hospital chaplin for the 47th Combat Support Hospital. "The monastery name is Dair Mar Elia, or the monastery of Elijah, and was named after a monk that trained in Turkey, and came here and established the monastery."

According to Landon, this monk wrote the rules of discipline that governed the life of the monastery. The style of the monastery was developed from the style of St. Benedict, which was common during that era.

"There was a time when the original monastery was unoccupied, and became deteriorated to the point where it was un-repairable," said Landon. "They monks continued to own the site; it was eventually re-occupied some time in the 1500's."

Landon said , the building that is standing today is no older then the 1500's, and no newer then the late 1600's, yet the original site was established in 5th century.

"The original buildings are still at the site, yet they have been covered by soil and now look like hills that surround buildings that are standing now," said Landon. "The new building was built because during the time when the monastery was unoccupied the walls collapsed, and were concealed by dirt, and it would have taken large efforts to excavate the site."

According to Landon, the original walls of the first monastery are still visible in the sides on the hills that surround the present monastery.

The monastery will continue to be preserved by coalition forces, but there are no plans to convert the site or renovate the existing building that stands there now.

"It is up to the Iraqi government for the future plans of the monastery," said Landon. "But the coalition will continue to treat the site with respect so that no further damage and deterioration happens."

• Date Taken: 06.02.2006
• Date Posted: 06.02.2006 12:40
• Story ID: 6642
• Location: MOSUL, IQ