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Hidden Texts
A few weeks before the Islamic State group ( also call ISIS ) occupied the Mar Behnam monastery ( the occupation started in June 2014 ) , a young non-Christian priest key out Yousif Sakat enshroud more than 400 texts , date stamp between the thirteenth and 20th centuries , in metal bins and put them in a storage sphere . He then built a wall in front of them in hopes of concealing them from ISIS forces .
As seen in this photo , the construction made the store area behind this door small , but blocked off the textual matter from the opinion of Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence forces . [ Read full story about the hidden text edition ]
Breaking down a wall
The wall fooled the occupying ISIS force for more than two years . Mar Behnam was recapture in November 2016 , by an Iraqi Christian whole that is help oppose ISIS . With the land site secure , the 400 texts could be taken out .
This photo shows a member of the Iraki Christian residential district helping to unwrap down the wall .
Revealing history
The texts , which were put in alloy bins before being hide behind the wall , were taken out for the first time in more than two eld . In that time ISIL had put down part of the monastery , burnt what texts they could find , deface and destroyed the monastery ’s artwork and lettering .
Religious texts
More than 400 text , date between the 13th and 20th century , were saved . The textbook include many bibles and liturgical materials as well as some dictionaries . Each school text contains notes by the scribes who copied them , describing historical , societal and spiritual events at the time they were copied . The texts are written in a variety of languages including Syriac ( a speech wide used in Iraq in ancient and medieval times ) , Arabic , Turkish and Neo - Aramaic .
Welcome news
Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians were defeat or storm to flee when ISIS occupy the area around the Mar Behnam monastery . Many of these people still live as refugees . For Iraki Christians , the successful concealing and preservation of the centuries - old textual matter was a small but welcome bit of good news .
Iraqi Christians
Today , Iraqi Christians make up less than 1 percent of Iraq ’s population , but are proud of their history and faith .
Memre of Ascetics
This text , copied in A.D. 1231 , is a liturgical text foretell the " Memre of Ascetics . " The school text includes notes by the scrivener , mentioning the historical , religious and societal events that took place in his life-time . This photograph was demand by Amir Harrak , a prof at the University of Toronto , before the texts were shroud off .
Comparing Gospels
This text , imitate in A.D. 1653 , show a comparison of the dissimilar creed . The scribe illustrated the schoolbook beautifully . This photo was also take by Professor Amir Harrak before the text were hidden away in the Mar Behnam monastery .
Genealogy of Jesus Christ
This school text , also copied in A.D. 1653 , describes the genealogy of Jesus Christ . This photograph was also taken before the texts were hidden away , just week before ISIS occupied the Mar Behnam monastery .
Secure location
The text were taken to an unrevealed but relatively secure location . Professor Amir Harrak told Live Science that give the unrest in Iraq , it may be good to add the school text to a depository library in Europe , at least temporarily , for conservation and guardianship .
A wall built in a Christian monastery in Iraq hid hundreds of ancient texts from the view of ISIS forces.
A member of the Iraqi Christian community helping to break down a wall in the Mar Behnam monastery where ancient texts were hidden.
The ancient texts saved in the Mar Behnam monastery include biblical materials and dictionaries, as well as notes by the scribes who copied the texts.
The ancient texts saved in the Mar Behnam monastery include biblical materials and dictionaries, as well as notes by the scribes who copied the texts.
Today, Iraqi Christians make up less than 1 percent of Iraq’s population, but are proud of their history and faith.
Today, Iraqi Christians make up less than 1 percent of Iraq’s population, but are proud of their history and faith.
For Iraqi Christians, the successful hiding and saving of the centuries-old texts was a small but welcome bit of good news.
This text, copied in A.D. 1653, shows a comparison of the different gospels.
This text, also copied in A.D. 1653, describes the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This photo was also taken before the texts were hidden away, just weeks before ISIS occupied the Mar Behnam monastery.
The texts were taken to an undisclosed but relatively secure location. Professor Amir Harrak told Live Science that given the unrest in Iraq, it may be best to bring the texts to a library in Europe, at least temporarily, for conservation and safekeeping.
