SW News: For Christians in the historical town of Mardin in Turkey, it was a day of rejoicing when a historic Catholic monastery was reopened after almost a century. It was the Mor Efrem Syriac Catholic Monastery which was rededicated recently by Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan in the presence of a large number of believers.

The monastery church was packed on October 13 when the visiting patriarch came to rededicate it accompanied by several prelates of the Catholic as well Orthodox Churches. They included Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Marek Solczynski and Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro. There was also a delegation from the Syriac Orthodox Church.

The ceremony began with the consecration of the altar using Holy Chrism after which Patriarch Younan offered Holy Mass. It was witnessed by a large number of believers from different Churches. While preaching the sermon, the head of the Syriac Church expressed happiness over so many people gathering to witness this historic moment.

Pointing to the words ‘Look at Him’ inscribed above the sanctuary in Syriac, he exhorted believers to "always turn their gaze" to the Crucified Lord. “In him we place all our hopes," said the top prelate. The patriarch also told the faithful to place their trust and faith in Christ who is love and who unites everyone.

Built in the late 1800s, the monastery was forcibly occupied by Ottoman troops in the early half of the 20th century and was converted into barracks when World War I broke out. Later, it served as a prison, a residence for orphaned children and a military hospital. After decades of neglect and disuse, the building was finally returned to the Syriac Catholic Church in the early 2000s.

Volunteers from the locality and experts painstakingly restored the damaged monastery complex to its original splendor before it was declared fit for worship.