Mor Evgin Monastery

The Mor Evgin Monastery is located in the Tuz İzlo region of Nusaybin district, Mardin province, in Türkiye’s Southeastern Anatolia Region. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 900 meters above sea level, at the foothills of İzlo Mountain.

Mor Evgin Church (Mardin Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

History and Foundation

It was founded in 363 AD by the Christian hermit Mor Evgin, who arrived from Egypt, along with seventy evangelists. Unlike other monasteries in the region, it was constructed during the Roman period and has a history of approximately 1700 years.

Architectural Structure and Layout

The monastery is a complex structure centered around a courtyard. It contains numerous hermit cells, worship areas, church sections, and the tombs of Christian saints. Architecturally, it exhibits distinctive features different from other monasteries in the region.

Türkiye’s Heaviest Bell

The bell located in the monastery, weighing approximately 1 ton and 298 kilograms, is recorded as Türkiye’s heaviest bell.

Religious and Cultural Significance

The Mor Evgin Monastery is regarded as the origin of Syriac Christian monastic life in the Tur Abdin region. It served as a vital center for religious education and institutional development in the area.

Throughout history, the number of monks at the monastery reached as high as 350 at one point. It functioned as a center where monks lived in seclusion and received religious training. Monks trained at the Mor Evgin Monastery spread the Christian faith in groups across a vast area extending from the region to India.

The Title “Second Messiah”

Mor Evgin was honored with the title “Second Messiah” due to his services at the monastery.

Water Jug Tradition and the Silk Road

Approximately 300 water jugs were produced at the monastery and used to provide water to travelers along the Silk Road.

Bell at the Mor Evgin Monastery (Mardin Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

Current Status and Worship

After the death of the last abbot in 1970, the monastery was abandoned. Although it was reopened for worship in 2011 with the appointment of a new monk, it is currently closed to visitors.