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Ancient Monastery Iraq

Our World || Niniveh Province, Iraq

Mar Mattai Monastery atop Mount Alfaf overlooking the Nineveh plains in Northern Iraq. Mosul city is 20km's in the distance.


Mar Matta Ancient Monastery Origin

In the northern province of Niniveh just 38 kilometres from the city of Mosul in Iraq is Mount Maqlub, and atop this mountain stands the wonderous Mar Mattai monastery.


Mar Mattai ancient monastery has a rich history dating back to 363AD. Originally Mor Mattai the Hermit (a religous person who lives in solitude) fled persecution in Amid under the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, where he took refuge in Mount Alfaf with 25 other monks. The church and monastery were built along with the surrounding fortified walls and the monks live in huts and caves around the monastery on the mountain itself.


Over the years the Monastery has survived multiple attacks by different groups of people, resulting in various repairs and rebuilds. The Monastery though stands strong today, it serves the small farming villages below it and is still being used for religous purposes by the monks and various Christian denominations.


History of Conflicts

Mar Mattai Monastery has a long history of conflict from different groups of people, to list a few:

  • In 12th-16th century Kurds lead multiple attacks upon the Monastery. In one battle the monks faught off 1,000 soliders and another 1,500. Sometimes the monks were successful in the defence and at other times they lost people and the monastery was looted.

  • In 1262 Mongols under Hulagu, grandson of Genghis Khan conquered Mosul 20kms of Mar Mattai.

  • In 1979-2003 Saddam Hussein was the Prime Minister of Iraq, he requested a guest house to be made for him at Mar Mattai Monastery, that he accidentally destroyed as he attempted to shoot a missile at the Monastery. (This information was shared with me by the monks and I haven't been able to fact check)

  • 2013-2017 Islamic State (ISIS) conflict. Mosul city, 20kms from the monastery, became a main base for operations for ISIS. During this time many refugees from Mosul found refuge at Mar Mattai Monastery. On multiple occasions the monks had their lives threatened and at times saw soldiers approaching them but always backing down for no apparent reasons.



Road up to Mar Mattai Monastery that is positioned on the cliff side of Mount Maqlub.


Mar Mattai Monastery as seen from below displaying the advantage the steep terrain gives against enemies.


A bench set up for those who make the journey to the monastery on foot.

Monastery outer walls overlooking Nineveh plains.



Main enterance into the monastery showcasing the strong reinforced doors made of some metal with a cross displayed on both sides.


Details from inside the monastery: 1st image shows the monastery grounds, 2nd and 3rd shows the multiple crosses displayed around the monastery, 4th and 5th shows a beautiful stained glass window overlooking Nineveh.


View from the monastery walls over the town below and the Nineveh Plains. You can see the small windy footpath below some people take to get up to the monastery.



Inside the monastery: 1st image is where we first met the monks, sat down all together to share some tea and hear their stories. 2nd image is the burial room where some of the greater known monks have been buried including Mar Mattai. 3rd image is the main room where the monks pray, sing their hymns and conduct their services.


Two of the main Monks at Mar Matta Monastery, due to security purposes I didn't include their eyes in the photos to keep their identity consealed. Instead I wanted to tell their story through other elements like their environment, what they are wearing, and them holding an personal belonging that's special to them.


The Cross and it's Symbolism

Having these men hold their crosses carries a lot of meaning and symbolism parrallel to them, their lifestyles and faith.


If you look at their crosses you can see how each of them have been so intricately made with skilled craftmanship and beautiful materials. I'm no expert in evaluations but I wouldn't be surprised if each of these crosses carry high value.

Either way I think the value of these crosses and level of detail gone into them beautifully reflects their faith, how valuable or important it is to each of them and the level of attention to detail they go to in every aspect of their life.


Additionally how these men always carry their crosses around their necks I think reflects their level of commitment to their faith, the spiritual practises they perform and even the symbolism of carrying their cross as mentioned in the Christian bible.

Luke 9:23, Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."


That means to fully put your trust in God amid the storms and battles in your life.


Final Thoughts: How this experience transformed my beliefs, my work and my life.

Visiting Mar Mattai Monastery and meeting these monks was not just a top life experience for me but also a pivotal moment that changed the course of my very beliefs.


So we all have our own individual moral compass, what we deem as right and wrong, good or bad. Now I grew up in a Pentacostal Church where I witnissed a lot of people talking negatively about others beliefs, basically anyone who didn't share the same belief as them were wrong and only their way was right. This isn't unique to Churches as everyone does it from different groups, governments, religous backgrounds. It's a common theme amongst humanity globally and through all time.

As I grew up and began travelling I noticed this common trend, that everyone believes they know the true right way and everyone else who is different is wrong. The more people I met and learned of their beliefs the more I became curious in understanding two questions; first question is what defines or influences peoples belief systems (values, spirituality and moral compasses)? Second if everyone is right in their own eyes, and everyone else is wrong. Then who is actually right? What is the trueth?


This question requires a much longer answer, but coming back to the Monks at Mar Mattai Monastery they were a pivotable moment in my life because up until this point I was under the impression that my Pentocostal Christian faith was the true right way. When I met these men though who are of Syriac Orthodox Christiainity and witnessed their devotion to their faith. I realised how narrow minded me beliefs had been all these years, even more so I could no longer trust my own idea of what right and wrong is.


I've spent the last 10 years documenting humanity in various forms and I'll continue for the next 10 if I can, as I want document what we fundamentally share together yet what makes us individually unique. More so I want to learn and understand peoples beliefs, what influences them and how they influence the lives we live.

I now believe if we all had a better understanding of whats influenced our very belief system, and had a holistic understanding of all the possible influences. Then we can more confidentally live our lives authentic to us whilst being respectful of others own individual lives too.


Hope this resonates with you, as my goal is to help give you a unique perspective into the rest of the world so you can be more intentional with living your most authentic life.


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