Mar Elias Monastery ( he, מנזר אליהו הקדוש, ar, دير مار إلياس, Deir Mar Elias) is a Greek Orthodox monastery in south Jerusalem, on a hill overlooking Bethlehem and Herodium.

History

According to Christian tradition, Elijah rested here after fleeing the vengeance of Jezebel. It is also said to be the burial place of the Greek Bishop Elias of Bethlehem who died in 1345, and St. Elias, an Egyptian monk who became Patriarch of Jerusalem in 494. Another Christian tradition is that Mary rested under the large hackberry tree growing north of the monastery when she was fleeing Herod, who had ordered the execution of all the children of Bethlehem. MarEliasMonasteryFeb162022 03

From the hill east of the monastery, in 1956 one or rather several Jordanian soldiers opened fire on a group of Israeli archaeologists visiting the excavation sites across the valley at Ramat Rachel, killing four and injuring 16.''Israel Rejects Jordan's Claim Madman Killed 3'', Meriden Journal, 24 September 1956

/ref>Raphael Israeli, ''Jerusalem Divided: The Armistice Regime, 1947-1967'', p. 82. Routledge 2002, Series: Israeli History, Politics and Society (Book 23),

/ref>

After 1967

During the 1967 Six-Day War, attackers of the

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...

quickly overran Jordanian defences around the monastery on the way to Bethlehem and Hebron. After 1967 the height, known as Elijah Hill, was renamed in Hebrew as Givat ha'Arba'a, Hill of the Four, in honour of the four victims killed in the 1956 incident. Facing the monastery is a stone bench erected by the wife of the painter William Holman Hunt, who painted some of his major works at this spot. The bench is inscribed with biblical verses in Hebrew, Greek, Arabic and English. Since the 4th century, the monks of Mar Elias have cultivated olives and grapes.Where to Go: Mar Elias
/ref>

Gallery

The Mar-Elias monastery. Elijah being assumed into heaven in a chariot of fire.jpg, The Mar-Elias monastery. The iconostasis.jpg, The Mar-Elias monastery. The painting of the dome - Jesus Christ the Pantocrator.jpg, The Mar-Elias monastery. The painting of the western wall.jpg, MarEliasMonasteryFeb162022 01.jpg MarEliasMonasteryFeb162022 02.jpg MarEliasMonasteryFeb162022 04.jpg MarEliasMonasteryFeb162022 05.jpg MarEliasMonasteryFeb162022 06.jpg GivatHaArbaaFeb162022 01.jpg GivatHaArbaaFeb162022 02.jpg

References

Bibliography

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External links