Dayro d-Mor Hananyo
Encyclopedia
Deyr ul-Zafaran Monastery (, ) is an important Syriac Orthodox
monastery
near the city of Mardin in Turkey
. The monastery is located in the area known as Tur Abdin
, the motherland of the Assyrian/Syriacs
. It is usually better known by its nickname
, the 'Saffron Monastery' . This name is derived from the warm colour of its stone. The monastery acquired its present, official name from Saint Hananyo (the Syriac equivalent of Ananias, which is its Greek form), who was Metropolitan
of Kfartuta from 793 to 800. Saint Hananyo renovated the monastery in 793.
Founded in 493 AD, the monastery was formerly the seat of the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church
from 1160 until 1932 where it relocated to Damascus
.
The monastery has 365 rooms - one for each day of the year.
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
near the city of Mardin in 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...
. The monastery is located in the area known as 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...
, the motherland of the Assyrian/Syriacs
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
. It is usually better known by its nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
, the 'Saffron Monastery' . This name is derived from the warm colour of its stone. The monastery acquired its present, official name from Saint Hananyo (the Syriac equivalent of Ananias, which is its Greek form), who was Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Kfartuta from 793 to 800. Saint Hananyo renovated the monastery in 793.
Founded in 493 AD, the monastery was formerly the seat of the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
from 1160 until 1932 where it relocated to Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
.
The monastery has 365 rooms - one for each day of the year.