Great Altitude

By .JohnSmith.

 Deyrulumur Monastery is situated to the south east of Midyat in the province of Mardin in the south east of Turkey.

The Monastery sits on a hill surrounded by oak trees. It is also called The Monastery of Saint Gabriel after the 7th century bishop of the monastery who famously brought four people back to life and performed many other miracles.

Founded by Mor Samuel and Mor Simon in 397AD it is the world?s oldest remaining Syriac Orthodox monastery and was once home to a famous library where Syrian scientists were educated. After construction it?s fame reached the Roman Emperors in Istanbul and Rome.

The Emperors Arcadius, Honorius, Theodosios and later Anastasius all contributed funds to the construction of buildings at the monastery, some of which still remain standing today.

As well as these ancient buildings, the monastery boasts Byzantine mosaics and also beautiful motives and ornaments carved into the limestone blocks. The main church was built in 512 AD and was restored in 1997 as part of the celebrations commemorating the 16th centenary of the monastery?s founding. Outside there are two buildings known as the Dome of the Egyptians due to the legend of eight hundred monks from Egypt coming to the monastery and later being buried here. There is also a baptistry, sanctuary, nave and walls that have been decorated with scripture.

Syrians account for around one fifth of the 100,000 or so Christians living in Turkey today with about 2000 living in the south east. At Turabdin the ancient ways of the Syrian Orthodox tradition are still practiced. Today it is the seat of the bishop of Turabdin and is a working monastery with about fifteen nuns and and a handful of monks living and working at the site.

Their job is to try to keep the traditions of the Syriac Orthodox Church alive through the schooling and ordination of native born monks however the modern hostelry that was built in the 1960?s and is used to house these workers and guests, detracts from the beauty of the older buildings of the monastery.

Turabdin was an important centre for the Syriac people, in the Syriac language it means the Mountain of Hermits eg. mountain (tur) hermits (abdin). The area contains many churches, monasteries and hermitages that have been carved into the sides of the mountains which historians believe confirms the importance of this area.

When to visit:

Visitors are welcome to come to Deyrulumur Monastery from 09:30 until 11:30 and also between 13:00-16:00, it is even possible to stay if permission is obtained from the monks.

Can you attend Syriac Ceremony?

At midday you can go to the underground church and attend a Syriac Orthodox ceremony. However, when visiting it is important to wear clothes suitable for a place of worship.

Transport:

To reach the monastery by car leave Midyat on the Cizre road and after 20 km turn northeast onto the signed road that takes you to the site.

A taxi could also be taken to the site from Midyat. Dolmus? are available from Midyat but drop visitors of at the sign posted junction to the monastery leaving you to walk the remaining two kilometers.

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Calais a Port Town in Northern France
By Fred Ramsbottom

 Calais is a port town, is located in Northern France, and is an important gateway for those travelling between England and France. Its proximity to England is something that makes the town’s culture a mix of French and English.

Travelling from England to Calais is easy, and you can use a train or car to cross the Channel Tunnel to get to Calais. The distance between Dover and Calais can also be covered on a ferry.

If you are interested in history, then Calais is a place that will help to satisfy your curiosity. There are many fortresses you can visit. These include the La Forteresse de Mimoyecques, Blockhaus and La Coupole.

The La Forteresse de Mimoyecques is the most interesting, mostly because of its network of chambers and tunnels. By exploring the fortresses you have the ability to feel as if you are living back when the fortress was built. There is also Fort Risban, which has a history dating back to the 16th century. You can find more information about the war here (wiki reference).

If you are interested in the events of the First World War, you can visit the cemeteries and battlefields of this time. Some of these battlefields people visit as pilgrimage destinations. In order to provide an insight into the conditions of the war, some of the trenches have been kept in their original state.

Those who have an artist within should pay a visit to the Muse des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle, where many remarkable artworks and sculptures are on exhibition. The artworks are mostly watercolours. Another interesting thing to do is learn about the history of lace-making.

The market place of Place d’Armes is in the centre of Calais. In the centre of the town there is the Town Hall, built in Flemish style. There is also a church in the centre of the town and what makes it worth seeing is its unique Gothic style, and the fact that it is the only Gothic style church in France.

On the market square you can see some statues, which were placed by Rodin with the intention to foster feelings of equality and humility. One experiences a variety of intense emotions while walking past these figures.

There are many seaside resorts that you can visit. These include Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet. Other than these, there are also other resorts like Hardelot, Wissant, Gravelines, Wimereux and Berck-Plage. There are many pubs, restaurants, and bars where you can have a leisurely time and enjoy yourself.

There are also wine emporiums, which have different varieties of good quality wine in stock.

An important annual festival in Calais is the Festival De La Cote D’Opale, where many music celebrities hold concerts in the town.

There are plenty of accommodation choices available for your stay in Calais. There are Calais hotels, B&Bs, inns, and lodgings. You can get accommodation in the town centre and also around town.

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