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Left: Seated on the shelf of a<br />
rocky peak, the monastery offers<br />
an exceptional double view. As<br />
seen from the valley, it appears<br />
as being suspended between<br />
the earth and the sky and leads<br />
us to meditation. On the other<br />
side, from its terrace, it offers a<br />
180° panorama and seems to be<br />
keeping a watchful eye on the<br />
world below, the world of the<br />
people of Nineveh.<br />
Below: Mar Matti was buried<br />
among many bishops, monks,<br />
and priests in this monastery.<br />
It was well known for its large<br />
library and Syriac Christian<br />
manuscripts. Also buried in Mar<br />
Matti Monastery is one of the<br />
great scholars at that time, Ibn<br />
Al Ibry. Many caves and silos remain<br />
around the monastery; they<br />
used to house all the people that<br />
lived there.<br />
Above: Mar Matti<br />
Monastery is only the<br />
mere shadow of its<br />
former magnificence.<br />
The small monastic<br />
community which still<br />
lives there watches over<br />
an immemorial heritage.<br />
It is recognized as<br />
one of the oldest<br />
monasteries, dating<br />
back to 363 AD. King<br />
Sennacherib built it<br />
during the reign of the<br />
Prussian King Shaboor<br />
(Shapur).<br />
Right: The last attack,<br />
by ISIS in 2014, was<br />
stopped down in<br />
the valley, just a few<br />
kilometers away from<br />
the monastery. At<br />
that time, some of the<br />
villages below had<br />
been evacuated and<br />
their inhabitants were<br />
temporarily transferred<br />
to Mar Matti.<br />
<strong>SEPTEMBER</strong> <strong>2022</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 27
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