Monastery of Saint Elijah, Mosul

Name: Monastery of Saint Elijah
Address: Mosul, Iraq

#1 among attractions in Mosul

Monastery

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Facts and practical information

Nestled in the historically rich city of Mosul, Iraq, the Monastery of Saint Elijah stands as a testament to the long-standing Christian presence in the region. This ancient monastery, also known as Dair Mar Elia, is believed to have been founded in the late 6th century by the Assyrian monk Mar Elia. It holds significant religious and cultural importance and has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries.

Though it has faced the ravages of time and conflict, the Monastery of Saint Elijah still exudes an aura of spiritual resilience. The site, characterized by its traditional Christian monastic architecture, is situated on a hill overlooking the city and offers a serene escape from the bustling streets of Mosul.

Visitors to the monastery can explore the remnants of its chapels, living quarters, and cloisters, where monks once led lives of prayer and contemplation. The walls of the monastery are adorned with inscriptions in Syriac, a dialect of the Aramaic language, which provides valuable insights into the history of Christianity in the Middle East.

While the Monastery of Saint Elijah has suffered significant damage, especially during recent conflicts, efforts are underway to preserve what remains of this important cultural and religious landmark. Tourists interested in the history of Christianity, ancient architecture, or the diverse cultural tapestry of Iraq will find the Monastery of Saint Elijah a poignant and reflective site to visit.

Alternative names: Coordinates: 36°17'33"N, 43°7'52"E

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Mosul Iraq

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Day trips

Monastery of Saint Elijah – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Nineveh, Mosul Museum, Al-Tahera Church, Mosques and shrines of Mosul.

4.9 miN
City, Archaeological site
Nineveh, Mosul
124 min walk • Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city of Upper Mesopotamia, located on the outskirts of Mosul in modern-day northern Iraq. It is located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River and was the capital and largest city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, as well as the largest city in the world for several decades.
3.2 miN
Museum
Mosul Museum, Mosul
81 min walk • The Mosul Museum is the second largest museum in Iraq after the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad. It was heavily looted during the 2003 Iraq War. Founded in 1952, the museum consisted of a small hall until a new building was opened in 1972, containing ancient Assyrian artifacts.
3.6 miN
Church
Al-Tahera Church, Mosul
92 min walk • The Al-Tahera Church is a partially demolished Syriac Catholic church in Mosul, Iraq.
4.2 miN
Mosque
Mosques and shrines of Mosul, Mosul
107 min walk • The Islamic Sites of Mosul, Iraq, are of varied ages, the oldest being the Umayyad Mosque from 640 AD. and the modern being the Mosul Grand Mosque.
3.3 miN
Church
Our Lady of the Hour Church, Mosul
85 min walk • The Our Lady of the Hour Church also known as the name of the Latin Church, was a Catholic church in the center of Mosul, in northern Iraq.
4.4 miN
Forts and castles
Bash Tapia Castle, Mosul
112 min walk • Bash Tapia Castle, also known as Bashtabiya Castle or Pashtabia Castle, is a ruined 12th-century castle located on the western bank of the Tigris river, forming part of the city wall of Mosul, Iraq.
4.5 miN
Mosque
Mosul Grand Mosque, Mosul
116 min walk • The Mosul Grand Mosque is an incomplete Sunni Islamic mosque located in Mosul, Iraq. The mosque is situated in the Taqafah district bordering the Tigris river near the Nineveh archeological site.
3.5 miN
Mosque
Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Mosul
89 min walk • The Great Mosque of al-Nuri was a mosque in Mosul, Iraq. It was famous for its leaning minaret, which gave the city its nickname "the hunchback".
4.8 miN
Library, Greek Revival architecture
Library of Ashurbanipal, Mosul
122 min walk • The Royal Library of Ashurbanipal, named after Ashurbanipal, the last great king of the Assyrian Empire, is a collection of more than 30,000 clay tablets and fragments containing texts of all kinds from the 7th century BC, including texts in various languages.
4.3 miN
Bridge
Fifth Bridge, Mosul
109 min walk • Fifth Bridge is a bridge in the city of Mosul, located in the province of Nineveh Governorate in Iraq over the Tigris River. The bridge was constructed in the 1980s and links the east and west sides of the city.
4.9 miN
Neighbourhood
Mosul District, Mosul
124 min walk • Mosul District is a district in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. Its administrative center is the city of Mosul. Other settlements include Al-Qayyarah, Al-Shurah, Hamam al-Alil, Al-Mahlaah, and Hamidat.