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Hidden among the cliffs of Mount Bagok in Türkiye’s Mardin Province, the Monastery of Mor Augin is one of the oldest and most mystic Christian monastic sites in the region. Dating back to before 363 A.D., this sacred complex not only reflects the architectural legacy of the Roman and Persian periods but also carries deep spiritual and historical significance.
Here are 7 powerful images that reveal the timeless beauty and enduring spirit of this extraordinary monastery.
Perched high on Mount Bagok, the Monastery of Mor Augin overlooks the vast Plain of Nusaybin, resembling the famous Sumela Monastery in both setting and atmosphere.
Believed to be founded before 363 A.D., the monastery is considered one of the oldest in the historical region of Ṭur ‘Abdin and a key site of early Christian monasticism.
Home to Türkiye’s heaviest monastery bell, weighing approximately 1 ton 298 kilograms, Mor Augin boasts one of the most remarkable features of Christian heritage in the region.
Surrounded by ancient cloisters, the central courtyard leads to a burial chamber (beth qadishe) that houses the tombs of Mor Augin’s seventy disciples.
The founder’s tomb lies in a dark, secluded room, accompanied by the remains of his sister and other family members, preserving a sacred silence.
The Mart Maryam chapel, with its distinctive 8th-century brick dome, reflects the architectural evolution during the early Islamic era in Ṭur ‘Abdin.
Once abandoned, now revived, the monastery saw a new chapter in 2010 when restoration works began under the leadership of Abbot Fr. Joachim Raban.
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