[1] According to the 9th-century Book of Chastity of Ishoʿdnah of Basra, the monastery was founded by Mar Habib near the village of Kfar Tuta.
After spending some time in several different monasteries, he settled permanently in that of Mar Habib, which he proceeded to enlarge.
[3] In the middle of the 8th century, the famous mystic Joseph Hazzaya served as its abbot for a time.
[1][2] Its colophon reads as follows: This book ... was completed and finished in the holy monastery, the place of rest for humility, Tabor's abode, Sion's Upper Room, the fragrant shrine [of] the holy Mar Hnanya, Mar Hnanishoʿ, Mar Bassima, and Mar Habbib, known as the [monastery] of the Bear, situated ... on the edge of the resting place of Noah and his children when [they] came out of the Ark, it being on the slopes of the mountain of the Ark.
This manuscript, now British Library, Oriental 3336, contains the only known copy of Gabriel of Qatar's Commentary on the Liturgy.