In 2021, Türkiye nominated several ancient Assyrian monasteries and churches in the southeastern province of Mardin for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The sites include the Mor Gabriel Monastery, Deyrülzafaran Monastery, and The Church of Yoldat Āloho (Meryem Ana) in Ḥāḥ (Turkish Anıtlı), and others that constitute the most renowned landmarks in the historical Assyrian region in the south east of Türkiye.
UNESCO is expected to evaluate the sites based on their historical, cultural, and architectural value, as well as the measures to ensure their preservation - a process that can take several years.
Both a blessing and a curse
The churches and monasteries of Tur Abdin have sometimes been caught in disputes over ownership, property rights, and lack of protection. The case of the Mor Gabriel monastery, in which nearby Kurdish villages claimed large parts of its lands as theirs and which lead to a series of court proceedings, was highlighted in media all over the world. The inclusion of Assyrian monasteries on the UNESCO list would be a major milestone, offering not only global recognition but also potential protection and perhaps even funding for preservation.
Assyrians see this development as positive, but are also wary of its potential negative impact. Today, buses arrive non-stop carrying tourists from western Türkiye to visit the monasteries as pure attractions with little to no awareness of their profound and living spiritual significance for the Assyrian people. The fear is that the current trek of domestic tourism could turn into a global flood of mass-tourism that hollows out the very spiritual and living culture elements that makes the sites special for Assyrians: While an increase in the number of visitors will benefit the region economically, questions are asked about what will be lost if these deeply spiritual ancient sites turn into objects of global mass tourism.
The growing tourism to Turkish Assyria is already creating some tension. In 2025, Turkish media reported about an incident involving an Assyrian priest at one of the monasteries who was less welcoming towards tourists who wanted to take a photo with him, by saying, 'I represent a religion, I am not a subject model to take a photo, I do not want to take a photo with anyone'. The tourists, who were surprised in the face of the reaction they encountered, were reported to have hurried from the site.
The sites at the heart of the nomination
According to UNESCO’s tentative listing, the serial nomination comprises nine components: four monasteries and five churches in Tur Abdin. To understand the significance of this nomination, it is worth looking at the sites themselves. Each carries centuries of history and spiritual meaning. Among the best known are:
Mor Gabriel Monastery (Deyrulumur) – Founded in 397 AD, Mor Gabriel is one of the oldest functioning Christian monasteries in the world. It remains an active religious center. In recent decades, however, it has faced legal disputes over land ownership by Kurdish settlers.
Deyro de Kurkmo Monastery (Deyrülzafaran) – Perhaps the most famous site in Mardin, the Saffron Monastery was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate for centuries until 1932. Its saffron-colored stone, from which it takes its name, and its underground temple make it one of the jewels of Assyrian heritage.
The Church of Yoldath Āloho (Meryem Ana), Ḥāḥ (Anıtlı) – Dating back to late antiquity, this church is an architectural gem that continues to serve its local Assyrian community while drawing pilgrims and visitors from afar.
The full nomination file can be consulted on UNESCO’s official website (UNESCO Tentative List entry, April 15, 2021).
