In the West Bank, a 4th century monastery is hiding in an isolated valley
Wadi Qelt is a rocky canyon located in the desert of Judea in West Bank , a desert that begins near Jerusalem and ends near Jericho, not far from the Dead Sea. In this isolated and arid valley, a monastery of the 4th century cling dangerously to rock walls. Originally built around a cave, the monastery expanded during the 5th century when a Greek Orthodox monk, Gorgias de Koziba, lived in the place.
The monastery Saint-Georges was created in the 4th century, when hermits sought to live the same experiences as prophets: according to legend, the prophet Elijah had already rested in one of these caves by going to Sinai. The Greek Orthodox monastery was built at the end of the 5th century AD by Jean de Thèbes, whose latter became a hermit and moved from Egypt to Syria-Palestine (name of the former province of Judea) in 480 AD. The monastery was called Saint-Georges after the most famous monk who lived on the site, Gorgias de Koziba (it is sometimes referred to as the monastery of Saint-Georges de Choziba).
The monastery was destroyed in the year 614 by the Persians who swept the valley and massacred the fourteen monks who lived there. The bones and skulls of the martyr monks are still visible today in the monastery chapel. After the Persian invasion, the monastery remained abandoned for almost 500 years until restorations were carried out by restorations crossed 12th century. But after their expulsion, the monastery fell into disuse. In 1878, a Greek monk, Kalinikos, settled here and restored the monastery, buying it in 1901.
Saint George is one of the many Byzantine monasteries that are scattered in these rocky hills, where no woman can enter. We count on it. many monasteries in the wilderness of Judah.
How to get to the Saint George Monastery?
The monastery is located about thirty kilometers from Jerusalem on the historic road between Jerusalem and Jericho, which is parallel to the valley. A pedestrian bridge overlooks the Wadi Qelt (which runs in the spring) and connects the monastery to the road.
First we have to go to Mitzpe Jericho , almost halfway from Jerusalem, then take the direction of the gorge Wadi Qelt . Take to the right after 1 kilometer. Get down on a small road for about 5 km, along the Wadi with the valley on your left (200 m of elevation). Then turn left in the direction of the monastery, Bedouins offer you to go to the donkey back. You can walk. Think about taking a lot of water and remember that, depending on the period of the year, it is very early (at the end of the year in particular).
Photo sources and text: Wikipedia , Amusing Planet
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