RENAISSANCE OF THE GREAT BAS-RELIEFS OF MAR BEHNĀM AND MART SĀRAH
The Mesopotamia Association is pleased to announce the renaissance of the two large bas-reliefs of Saints Behnām and Sārah at the Mar Behnām and Sārah Convent in Khidhr Ilyas, in the Nineveh Governorate, Iraq.
The rehabilitation project, which began on 11 December 2025, was completed on 10 February 2026.
With the financial support of :
The renaissance of these two exceptional works, which had been almost completely destroyed by ISIS in 2014–2016, is helping to revitalise a thousand-year-old heritage that is unparalleled in the history of Iraqi art.
The renaissance of these two works also contributes to the revival of a very important Iraqi spiritual site, which embodies the history of the Christianisation of Mesopotamia.
IMPORTANCE OF THE CONVENT OF MAR BEHNĀM AND MART SĀRAH
Founded in the 4th century, the convent of Mar Behnām and Sārah is Iraq’s most important Christian spiritual site. The destruction wrought by ISIS in 2014–2016 nearly wiped out this iconic site in Mesopotamian history.
The two large bas-reliefs of Mar Behnām and Mart Sārah originally date back to the 13th century. These two works are a vivid testimony to medieval Mesopotamian sacred art. Their restoration was fundamental to the historical, heritage and spiritual renewal of this convent and of Iraq.
7 May 1927 © Autochrome, glass, 9 x 12 cm, Frédéric Gadmer, operator - Musée départemental Albert-Kahn, Département des Hauts-de-Seine_N° inventaire : A54188S
April 2017 © Pascal Maguesyan / MESOPOTAMIA
THREE TYPES OF INTERVENTION TO REHABILITATE THESE TWO WORKS
This rehabilitation was of a hybrid nature. Three types of intervention were carried out on the two large bas-reliefs:
- Scientific restoration of the parts that had been preserved, in keeping with the known iconographic history.
- Restitution of the mouldings damaged by ISIS, based on existing historical documentation.
- Recreation of figures that had disappeared over the centuries, for cultural reasons, as close as possible to the Atabeg style.
The Syriac and Arabic inscriptions that framed the two bas-reliefs have also been restored to their original legibility and authenticity.
11 december 2025 © Matty Al Mache-MESOPOTAMIA
February 2026 © Matty Al Mache-MESOPOTAMIA
19 April 2017 © Pascal Maguesyan - MESOPOTAMIA
February 2026 © Matty Al Mache-MESOPOTAMIA
EVOLUTION OF THE BAS-RELIEF OF MAR BEHNAM IN 4 STAGES
EVOLUTION OF THE BAS-RELIEF OF MAR BEHNAM IN 4 STAGES
Assembled photographs. February 2026 © Pascal Maguesyan - MESOPOTAMIA
EVOLUTION OF THE BAS-RELIEF OF MART SARAH IN 4 STAGES
EVOLUTION OF THE BAS-RELIEF OF MART SARAH IN 4 STAGES
Assembled photographs. February 2026 © Pascal Maguesyan - MESOPOTAMIA
THIS REHABILITATION IS THE RESULT OF HIGH-LEVEL FRENCH-IRAQI COOPERATION
Ownership of the works:
Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul. Archbishop Younan Hano.
Convent of Mar Behnām and Sārah – Father Mazin Eshoo, Prior.
Project management: Mesopotamia Association
Marie-Ange Denoyel (France). Presidente of Mesopotamia. General administration of the restoration project
Pascal Maguesyan (France). Co-founder of Mesopotamia. General management of the restoration project
Ibrahim Shaaba Lallo (Iraq). Mesopotamia collaborator. Director of the restoration site
Shahad Alkhoury (Iraq). Mesopotamia representative in Iraq. Preparation of the restoration project
Special Advisor:
Father Majeed Attalla. Former Secretary of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul. Parish priest of the Syriac Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Lyon. Mediator for the restoration project between France and Iraq.
The restorers:
Clémens Thienpont, French stonemason and restorer.
Nenous Thabet Pataq, head of the Iraqi team of restorer-sculptors.
Thabet Mekhael, Iraqi restorer.
Fadi Mazen, Iraqi restorer.
Rama Basim, student at the Al Hamdaniya Institute of Fine Arts.
Farah Esso, student at the Al Hamdaniya Institute of Fine Arts.
Narsaï Yacoub, restoration intern.
Epigraphic expertise:
Dr. Simon Brelaud, specialist in Syriac epigraphy. Recording of inscriptions and restoration on tracing paper.
Photogrammetric survey and 3D modelling:
Twana Mamand, archaeologist
Audiovisual:
Matty Almache, Mesopotamia collaborator. Photographer
Sandro Almache, Mesopotamia collaborator, video reports.
Transport:
Majeed Allo, Mesopotamia collaborator. Driver and technical assistant.
Administrative support:
Yohanna Towaya, administrator of Hammurabi Human Rights Organisation and Humanitarian Niniveh Relief Organisation. Relations with Iraqi authorities.
Panel of experts:
Narmin Ali Amin, archaeologist, professor at Salahaddin University, Erbil.
Guillaume de Beaurepaire, heritage architect.
Mounir Bouchenaki, archaeologist, president of the scientific council of the ALIPH Foundation.
Dr Simon Brelaud, Doctor of History, specialist in Syriac epigraphy.
Pascale and Jean Casati, representatives of L’Œuvre d’Orient.
Fulbert Dubois, heritage restorer.
Daniel Ibled, sculpture restorer.
Dr Georges Mouamar, Doctor of History.
Charles Personnaz, Director of the Institut national du Patrimoine (INP) – French National Heritage Institute.
Administrative supervision:
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq.
Iraqi Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH). Mosul Division:
Ruwayed Muafak Al Laila (Iraq), Director of the SBAH for the Province of Nineveh
16 december 2025 © Pascal Maguesyan - MESOPOTAMIA
December 2025 © Pascal Maguesyan - MESOPOTAMIA
January 2026 © Matty Almache - MESOPOTAMIA
January 2026 © Matty Almache - MESOPOTAMIA
MESOPOTAMIA THANKS THE BENEFACTORS OF THIS HERITAGE PROGRAMMEL
MESOPOTAMIA THANKS THE BENEFACTORS OF THIS HERITAGE PROGRAMME
Operational partners in the restoration of the bas-reliefs of Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah:
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq.
Iraqi Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage – SBAH.
Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul.
Convent of Mar Behnām and Sārah
Assembled photographs. February 2026 © Pascal Maguesyan - MESOPOTAMIA
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