Just outside the small Assyrian town of Alqosh sits Rabban Hormizd Monastery, one of the holiest sites for the Chaldean Catholic Church. Some friendly locals brought us there a day before, but it was closed (every Friday). So today, we hired another local man with his Toyota (20000 IQD) to get us to the monastery highly secured by the army. The church was closed due to renovation, so we could enjoy just perfect views of the amphitheater.
Monastery, founded about 640 AD, is carved out in the mountains. It was the official residence of the patriarchs of the Eliya line of the Assyrian Church of the East from 1551 to the 18th century. After the union with Rome in the early 19th century, it became a prominent monastery of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
Parking location – Rabban Hormizd: 36.748708N 43.115610E (🚻)