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{{Infobox monastery
| name =The Monastery of St. Gabriel
| image =Deyrulumur P1040804 20080425103239.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| full =
| other_names =Dayro d-Mor Gabriel<br>Deyrulumur
| order =[[Syriac Orthodox Church]]
| established =397
| disestablished =
| nodislink =
| mother =
| dedication =[[Mor Gabriel]]
| diocese =[[Dioceses of the Syriac Orthodox Church#Tur Abdin|Diocese of Tur Abdin]]
| churches =Saint Gabriel Church, Church of the Virgin Mary, Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
| founder =Mor Samuel and Mor Simon
| abbot =Mor Timotheos Aktas
| prior =
| people =
| location =
| map_type =Turkey
| latitude =
| longitude =
| latd =37
| latm =19
| lats =18.4
| latNS =N
| longd =41
| longm =32
| longs =18.6
| longEW =E
| coord =
| oscoor =
| remains =
| public_access =
| other_info =
}}
[[Image:Morgabrieltowers.jpg|thumb|250px|The prominent towers of Dayro d-Mor Gabriel]]
'''Dayro d-Mor Gabriel''' ({{lang-syc|ܕܝܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܓܒܪܐܝܠ}}; ''The Monastery of St. Gabriel''), also known as '''Deyrulumur''', is the oldest surviving [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox]] monastery in the world. It is located on the [[Tur Abdin]] plateau near [[Midyat]] in the [[Mardin Province]] in southeastern [[Turkey]].<ref>[http://www.morgabriel.org/history.html The History of Mor Gabriel]</ref> It has been involved in a dispute with the Turkish government that threatened its existence.

==History==
[[Image:Morgabrielmain.jpg|thumb|250px|The functional main accommodation block of Dayro d-Mor Gabriel, emphasising its role as a working community]]
Dayro d-Mor Gabriel was founded in 397 by Mor Shmu'el (Samuel) and his student Mor Shem'un (Simon) on the ruins of an ancient [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] temple.<ref name="cso-france.voila.net">http://cso-france.voila.net/Monastere_Saint_Gabriel.htm</ref> The monastery's importance grew and by the 6th century there were over 1000 local and Coptic monks there. The monastery became so famous that it received contributions from Roman Emperors, such as [[Arcadius]], [[Honorius (emperor)|Honorius]], [[Theodosius II]] and [[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius]].<ref>http://www.morgabriel.org/history.html</ref> Between 615 and 1049 the Episcopal seat of Tur Abdin was based here and from 1049 until 1915 the monastery had its own diocese.

In the 7th century, the monastery became known as Monastery of [[Mor Gabriel|St Gabriel]], who was famous for his ascetic life. In the fourteenth century four hundred and forty monks were killed by invading Mongols.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123638477632658147</ref> In 1991, the remains of monks killed by [[Timur]] (Tamerlane) were found in caves underneath the monastery, dated to the year 1401.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=s4btFjdrwuYC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=St.+Shemoun+of+Kartmin&source=bl&ots=gYE7016j-2&sig=LFBuu79ic2LDldGOqG0RVVPNy3s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZdyQU_b8M6-lsATY8IBA&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=St.%20Shemoun%20of%20Kartmin&f=false|title=Monks of Mount Izla-Dale A. Johnson}}</ref> During the [[Assyrian Genocide]] the monks were massacred by [[Kurds]] and the monastery was occupied for four years until returned to the church in 1919.<ref name="cso-france.voila.net"/>

The monastery is an important center for the Syrian Christians of Tur Abdin with around fifteen [[nuns]] and two [[monk]]s occupying separate wings, as well as a fluctuating number of local lay workers and guests from overseas. It maintained a significant library however, almost nothing remains. The monastery is currently the seat of the [[metropolitan bishop]] of Tur Abdin. In its history the monastery has produced many high-ranking clerics and scholars, among them, four patriarchs, a [[Maphrian]] and 84 bishops.

Dayro d-Mor Gabriel is a working community set amongst gardens and orchards, and somewhat disfigured by 1960s residential accommodation. The monastery's primary purpose is to keep Syriac Orthodox Christianity alive in the land of its birth by providing schooling, ordination of native-born monks. On occasions it has provided physical protection to the Christian population.

Dayro d-Mor Gabriel is open to visitors, and it is possible to stay with permission, but is closed after dark.

==Dispute with the Turkish government==
In the last decade the monastery has been involved in a land dispute with the Turkish government and Kurdish village leaders, particularly those linked to the [[Çelebi (tribe)|Çelebi tribe]],<ref name="wooing">[http://www.economist.com/node/17632939 Turkey and religious freedom: Wooing Christians], [[The Economist]]</ref> backed by local representatives of the ruling [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|Justice and Development Party]].<ref name="ansamed.ansa.it">[http://ansamed.ansa.it/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2012/07/12/Turkey-Oldest-Christian-monastery-risk_7176199.html Turkey: Oldest Christian monastery at risk]</ref> Turkish government assistance to the Kurds is seen as retaliation against the [[Syriacs|Syriac]] diaspora for lobbying for international recognition of the killings of tens of thousands of Syriacs during [[World War I]] as genocide.<ref>http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21565655-battle-mor-gabriel-outpost-aramaic-speakers</ref> Their attempts to confiscate land owned by the monastery has garnered attention from many European governments, has gathered opposition to [[Turkey]]'s EU bid, and could be the basis of a case by the monastery at the [[European Court of Human Rights]]. Otmar Oehring from Missio, a German Catholic charity, has said that the cases mean that “the state's actions suggest it wishes that the monastery no longer existed.”<ref name="wooing"/>

There have also been claims that the monastery was built on the grounds of a previous mosque, regardless of the fact that the monastery was founded over 170 years prior to the birth of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]].<ref name="ansamed.ansa.it"/>

On 26 January 2011, the Turkish supreme court granted substantial parts of the Monastery to the Turkish Treasury. The ruling was that land inside and adjacent to the monastery, which the monastery has owned for decades and has paid taxes for, belongs to the State.<ref name="ruling">[http://www.aina.org/releases/20110130160008.htm Turkish Supreme Court Rules Against Assyrian Monastery], AINA.org</ref> On June 13, 2012 the Turkish supreme court of appeals upheld this decision.<ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/news-286147-turkeys-arameans-press-for-rights-to-mor-gabriel-despite-setbacks.html Turkey’s Arameans press for rights to Mor Gabriel despite setbacks], YONCA POYRAZ DOĞAN, Today's Zaman, 10 July 2012</ref>

The then Turkish prime minister [[Erdoğan]] announced on 30 September 2013 that the land would be returned to the Syriac community in Turkey.<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syriacs-to-regain-mor-gabriels-land-no-move-on-halki-seminary-in-democratization-package.aspx?pageID=238&nid=55408 Syriacs to regain Mor Gabriel’s land, no move on Halki Seminary in ‘democratization package’]</ref> This decision was approved a week later (7 October) by the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Foundations. A land registration process of two months would begin and was subject to approval.<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/return-of-mor-gabriel-monastery-lands-to-syriacs-officially-approved.aspx?pageID=238&nID=55858&NewsCatID=339 Return of Mor Gabriel Monastery lands to Syriacs officially approved]</ref>

The head of the Monastery of Mor Gabriel Foundation was handed the deeds of 12 parcels of the immovable property belonged to the Foundation of the Monastery of Mor Gabriel on 25 February 2014. This was based on the decision taken on 7 October 2013 by the Council of Foundations of the General Directorate of the Foundations. The legal process for taking the remaining 18 parcels of the monastery property continues.<ref>http://morgabriel.org/news128.html</ref>

==See also==
*[[Roman architecture]]
*[[List of Roman domes]]
*[[Oldest churches in the world]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mor Gabriel Monastery}}
*[http://www.morgabriel.org Official site]
*[http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/MidyatDGabriel/index.html Presentation]
*[http://en.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-478/_nr-906/i.html A Cold Wind Sweeping the Tur Abdin]
*[http://en.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-476/_nr-1226/i.html Turkey's Aramaean Minority: More Than Just Mor Gabriel]

{{Syriac monasteries}}

[[Category:Assyrian people]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries in Turkey]]
[[Category:Syriac Orthodox monasteries]]
[[Category:397 establishments]]
[[Category:Assyrian settlements]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Mardin Province]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 4th century]]
[[Category:Tur Abdin]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Mardin Province]]

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