Mar Behnam Monastery

Monastery of the Martyrs Saint Behnam and his Sister Sarah (syr. ܕܝܪܐ ܪܡܪܝ ܒܗܢܡ ܘܡܪܬ ܣܪܐ), is a Syriac Catholic monastery in northern Iraq close to the town of Bakhdida.

The monastery was built in the 4th century AD at the hands of an Assyrian king named Senchareb as a penance for killing his son Behnam and daughter Sarah after they converted to Christianity at the hands of Mar Mattai.

The monastery belonged to the Church of the East for at least 10 centuries attested by rare Turkic inscriptions from the 13th century left by Mongol pilgrims. before turning to the hand of the Syriac Orthodox Church when the whole region converted to Monophysitism and the monastery became the residence as well as the resting place of a number Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs.

The monks of the monastery established contact with Rome in the 18th century, which led to the gradual conversion of inhabitants of Bakhdida to the Syriac Catholic Church.

The monastery was renovated in 1986, and is visited by thousands of Christians and Muslims yearly.

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
There are no tips nor hints for Mar Behnam Monastery yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)
3.3/10
150 people have been here

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
DoubleTree by Hilton Van

starting $50

Elite World Van Hotel

starting $71

In the Historical Center of Mardin

starting $0

Shmayaa Hotel

starting $96

Dara Konag?

starting $25

Mardius Tarihi Konak

starting $209

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Nimrud

Nimrud is an ancient Assyrian city located south of Nineveh on the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Dair Mar Elia

Dair Mar Elia (syr. ܕܝܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܐܝܠܝܐ, Arabic: دير مار إيليا) (kno

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Nineveh

Nineveh (Akkadian: Ninua; Aramaic: ܢܝܢܘܐ; נינוה, Nīnewē; نينوى, Naīn

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mashki Gate

Mashki Gate are one of the gates of an ancient Nineveh city in Iraq.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Adad Gate

Adad Gate are one of the gates of an ancient Nineveh city in Iraq. The

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Nergal Gate

Nergal Gate are one of the gates of an ancient Nineveh city in Iraq.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mar Oraha Monastery

Saint Oraha Monastery (syr. ܕܝܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܘܪܐܗܐ‏), is a Chaldean Catho

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Lalish

Lalish (Arabic: لالش‎,Kurdish: Laliş, also called Lalişa nûranî)

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Bellapais Abbey

Bellapais Abbey (also spelled Bellapaïs) is the ruin of a monastery

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
聖露西亞聖殿

聖露西亞聖殿(葡萄牙語:-{Santuário de Santa Luzia}-)位於葡萄牙維亞納堡,供奉耶穌聖心

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mission Santa Barbara

Mission Santa Barbara, also known as Santa Barbara Mission, is a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Westminster Abbey

The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Monastery of Serra do Pilar

The Monastery of Serra do Pilar is a former monastery located in Vila

See all similar places