It's so beautiful and peaceful. If you are looking for peace of mind, I would recommend this church. ❤️

I highly recommend a trip to Mar Mattai. It is one of the highlights in Kurdistan an an absolute must.

i visited this place when i was 5, and i visited it again now. we went on Friday and it was open. people there are nice and welcoming

Mar Mattai Monastery is an amazing place to visit, full of history and peace. Sitting on top of Mount Alfaf, it offers stunning views of the Nineveh Plains below. As one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, it's a special site that has stood the test of time, even through difficult periods. The monastery is a peaceful and spiritual spot, with beautiful chapels and old manuscripts that show its rich history. Walking through the quiet halls, you feel a deep sense of calm and reflection. The mix of old and new architecture adds to the charm, making it a truly unique place. Whether you're visiting for religious reasons or just to experience the history and views, Mar Mattai Monastery is a must-see. It's a place that leaves you feeling inspired and connected to something bigger. Highly recommend visiting if you're in the area!

One of the spiritual places in Mosul. Everyone if be near to this place should be visiting.

Mar Mattai Monastery, is a Syriac Orthodox Church monastery on Mount Alfaf in northern Iraq, 20 kilometers northeast of the city of Mosul. It is recognized as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence. The place is very beautiful and very historical, the architecture is beautiful, and the view from monastery above is breathtaking, i highly recommend visiting it and checking out the area, especially during this time of the year.

It was bitterly cold the day I came here and it definitely impacted my overall experience. Don't get me wrong, this place is wonderful but we had an awful lot of logistical issues getting here - particularly involving a lot of walking through snow because the roads were not drivable.

Stunning at Sunset -at anytime! Mar Matti Monastery is a Syriac-Orthodox (Jacobite) monastery from 363 AD. Over the years, Mar Matti has sheltered and impacted thousands of people and, even today, anyone is welcome to stay and rest at the monastery. According to the legend, Mar Matti (Matthew) came from Diyarbakir, Turkey fleeing persecution from the Roman Emperor, Julian the Apostate. This widespread persecution was only 50 short years after Consintine I (his uncle) converted to Christianity. Mar Matti settled in Iraq and according to Syrian Christianity, "... he converted the son, Behnam, of the King of Assyria and his daughter, Sarah, to Christianity; consequently Sarah’s leprosy disappeared." It is believed that King Sennacherib, of Nimrod, murdered Mar Mattai’s son and daughter in retaliation to his children's conversions, but he eventually made amends by gifting Mount Alfaf for Matthew to found the monastery. Mar Matti is known for it's protection of monks and it's library of copied and original manuscripts. It faced many difficulties, being attacked by Arabs, Kurds, and the Mongols. Today the monastery is under the protection of the Kurdistan Regional Government -receiving special care and protection.