A look around the ancient Deir Mar Matta near Mosul - in pictures

The Syriac Orthodox monastery of St Matthew in Iraq was founded in 363AD

An aerial picture shows a view of the historic Syriac Orthodox monastery of St. Matthew, known in Arabic as Deir Mar Matta, on Jabal Maqlub, some 30 kms northeast of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, on December 12, 2021. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

The monastery is one of the world's oldest Christian communities and was founded by the hermit Mar Matta in the year 363

The initial phase of building was completed in the fourth century

The monastery site was reputedly given to its founder by King Sinharib of Assyria, whose children were converted by the monk

St Matthew's is famous for its library containing a collection of Syriac Christian manuscripts

People pray at the monastery, which today is also the centre of an archbishopric

Mar Matta is revered as a saint in Syriac Christian churches. Pilgrims pray at the monastery on the day of his death, September 18

The monastery's mountain position makes it a stronghold

Its walls have withstood many attacks over the 16 centuries of its existence

Although many Christians fled northern Iraq during the years of persecution by ISIS this century, the monastery church continues to serve local believers

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