ŞIRNAK - Mor Aho Monastery and Church, which was built in the Syriac village of Dêra Jor on Gabar Mountain, was destroyed during excavations despite being in a "special security zone".

 

The condition of the Mor Aho Monastery and Church, which is said to have been built by the Assyrians between the 7th and 8th centuries, in the village of Dêra Jor, located on the summit of Gabar Mountain, between the Kasrik Town of Şırnak and the Güçlükonak district, is deplorable. Mor Aho Monastery, the first monastery built on Gabar Mountain, has a history of 1,300 years. The monastery, many of which are used as barns, consists of two floors and many rooms.

 

It was noteworthy that the monastery located on Gabar Mountain, which the state declared a "private security zone" under the name of "security" and prohibited the entry and exit of civilians, was dug up and used as a barn. The ruins of 40-50 houses in the village where the monastery is located and which were evacuated by exiles and destroyed after the last family left in May 1990, still remain.

 

THE MONASTERY SURVIVED DESPITE THE MILITARY OPERATION

 

A large part of the monastery managed to survive despite the military operations and excavations. In addition to the excavations, it was seen that some of the stones of the monastery, which was built together with the church, were removed and taken away. Just below the monastery, the water source, which was surrounded by a wall and covered, still stands as it is, and the pine tree growing on the walls of the monastery fascinates those who see it.

 

THE MONASTERY WAS REGISTERED BY THE MINISTRY

 

On the other hand, the monastery was registered on September 23, 2021 by the Diyarbakir Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Directorate, which is affiliated to the Ministry of Culture. In the document prepared by the Diyarbakir Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board for the Mor Aho Monastery and its church, which are registered in 2021 and are among the structures that need to be protected, the following statements are included: Regarding the request to be evaluated within the scope of Article 6 of the Law No. 2863; The letter numbered 1545435 of the Diyarbakir Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board Directorate, asking the opinions of the institutions regarding the registration of the building: Mar Aho (Yukarı Dera) Monastery, Article 6 of the Law No. 2863 and Article 4 of the Regulation on the Detection and Registration of Immovable Cultural Heritage and Sites to be Protected It is registered as 'Immovable Cultural Property to be Protected' within the scope of Article 7 of the aforementioned Law.

 

However, despite the registration, no work has been done to protect and restore the monastery.