The mountains of Alqosh hold hundreds of caves carved by monks. This photo is taken from the Rabban Hormizd Monastery, carved into the mountainside. It has secret tunnels that were used to escape danger. The valley leads down to the village.

Dera Illaya (Upper Monastery) otherwise known as Rabban Hormizd Monastery. Located one mile northeast of Alqosh village, it is shaped like an eagle spreading its wings on Alqosh Mountain, which peaks at 2,600 feet. The front door of the monastery faces the tomb of St. Hormizd, for whom the villagers built the monastery and who at one time made his home there.

Dera Illaya (Upper Monastery) otherwise known as Rabban Hormizd Monastery. Located one mile northeast of Alqosh village, it is shaped like an eagle spreading its wings on Alqosh Mountain, which peaks at 2,600 feet. The front door of the monastery faces the tomb of St. Hormizd, for whom the villagers built the monastery and who at one time made his home there.

In this silo entrance walking down to Rabban Hormizd’s tomb, the ceiling gets shorter and shorter, forcing visitors to kneel in order to enter another silo.

Dera Rabban Hormizd was the headquarters for the Church of the East and home to Chaldean patriarchs for more than 300 years. Over 11 patriarchs from the Al Aboona family are buried there. These tombstone slabs detail their life and death.

Dera Rabban Hormizd was the headquarters for the Church of the East and home to Chaldean patriarchs for more than 300 years. Over 11 patriarchs from the Al Aboona family are buried there. These tombstone slabs detail their life and death.

This is one of the six churches in the monastery. It is called Rabban Hormizd Church but was previously known as St. Anthony Church. The date it was built is unknown, but the arches are a replica of King Sennacherib structures dating to 700 BC. The church contains 14 crosses representing the 14 stations of the cross.

The winding road leads you up the mountain to Rabban Hormizd Monastery. It is a mile away from Alqosh village. Until recent years when the road was paved, most people walked up to the monastery - a ritual adopted for humility and forgiveness.

This was the primary home for a monk (Rabban) in the mountains of Alqosh. Hiding from tyranny and persecution, monks would carve themselves a cave to stay alive. After many years these caves, also called silos, would become a place of worship.

Alqosh is an old Assyrian name meaning “Great God.” It dates back to before 700 BC.

This is an historic door located in the Kasha section of Alqosh. It is one of the original doors and has been in use since 1838. Above the door, Sureth writing describes the builder and the date.

Mar Kiwarkis Church, located in the center of Alqosh village.

A meeting room in the lower Monastery (Our Lady of the Seeds).

The entrance to Alsayida Monastery, also known as Our Lady of the Seeds. It was built by the patriarch Mar Yousif Oudo in 1858. The door mechanism (locks and hinges) was designed to replicate the 1st millennium AD.

This well dates back to the BC era. It is still active, but it is not used due to its location within the monastery.

Dera Illaya (Upper Monastery) otherwise known as Rabban Hormizd Monastery. Located one mile northeast of Alqosh village, it is shaped like an eagle spreading its wings on Alqosh Mountain, which peaks at 2,600 feet. The front door of the monastery faces the tomb of St. Hormizd, for whom the villagers built the monastery and who at one time made his home there.

Dera Illaya (Upper Monastery) otherwise known as Rabban Hormizd Monastery. Located one mile northeast of Alqosh village, it is shaped like an eagle spreading its wings on Alqosh Mountain, which peaks at 2,600 feet. The front door of the monastery faces the tomb of St. Hormizd, for whom the villagers built the monastery and who at one time made his home there.

The winding road leads you up the mountain to Rabban Hormizd Monastery. It is a mile away from Alqosh village. Until recent years when the road was paved, most people walked up to the monastery - a ritual adopted for humility and forgiveness.

This is a visitors’ quarters at Our Lady of the Seeds Monastery. These lodges housed visitors to Alqosh who would remain there for a period while visiting. It is located within Alsayida Monastery, giving the visitors a spiritual feeling.