Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Ein FaraIdentification: The site of 'Ein Fara was first identified by Marti (1880) as the monastery of Pharan, founded by Chariton. This identification has been accepted by all scholars. Monastery name: PHARANMonastery type: LauraMonastery category: DesertSource of sacredness: Founder's Tomb LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 22,870.0063,790.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 17,870.0013,790.00 Geographical region: Judean DesertProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: CliffDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 9 (Jerusalem)Distance from nearest settlement: ca. 9 km (Jerusalem)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 4 km north of the road connecting Jerusalem and Jericho. Source of knowledgeHideLiterary sources Text number Summary 1 A robbers' cave becomes the church of the laura, ca. AD 330. 2 With the robbers' money Chariton builds the laura. 3 Crowds gather around Chariton who is not happy about the loss of his solitude. He lays down the guidelines of worship for monks. 4 Euthymius visits Jerusalem and settles in Pharan, ca. AD 406. 5 Location of the laura of Pharan. 6 Stories of the desert fathers at Pharan, from an early 7th cent. collection of anecdotes. 7 Mention of the monastery on Mount Pharan, from an official report ordered in AD 808. Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Guérin 1868-69 Meinardus1964-65 Dinur and Feig1981 Patrich1984 Hirschfeld 1987 Excavated siteExcavators: Name White Fathers of Jerusalem Bibliograpy: Guérin, V., 1869III: 71-3 Marti, K., 18807-11 Vailhé, S. and Petrides, S., 1904333-58; 491-511 Meinardus, O., 1964-1965226-28 Bagatti, B., 196918-24 Ovadiah, A. and De Silva, C. G., 1981204 Patrich, J., 198461-62 Dinur, U. and Feig, N., 198617-18 Hirschfeld, Y., 1988/8995-104 Hirschfeld, Y., 19906-7 Di Segni, L., 19905-46 Hirschfeld, Y., 199221-23 Magen, Y. and Finkelstein, I., 1993400-406 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994202 Goldfus, H., 1997188-90 Di Segni, L., 200579 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012292-94 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: The site called Qal'at Musa was identified by Dinur and Feig as a monastery in its own right. Hirschfeld opined that the site was actually a part of the monastery of Pharan and the chapel was a funerary chapel located near the monastery's cemetery (Hirschfeld 1990: 6). State of certainty: Archaeologically and Literarily definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The remains of the core were damaged by construction of a Russian Orthodox monastery in the early twentieth century (now deserted). Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures General descriptionPaths: The monastery was reached via a path from the south. The path forks near the southern cliff of the wadi, one branch descending into it, the other leading to the core of the laura. Paths connected the various parts of the monastery. Churche/s: Two churches were identified in the core of the laura: a cave church and a second church constructed of ashlars. The cave church is located in the southern cliff about 12 m above ground level. It is reached via three flights of steps and a vertical shaft. The church complex consists of the prayer hall and three small rock-cut cells to its east. The church was consecrated by Chariton when he first came to the area. It was referred to as "The Old Church" (V. Char. 11, 24.20). The second church is ashlar built, located at the foot of the cliff, below the cave church. The vault of the tomb in which Chariton was buried, according to tradition, is located under this ruin. About 1.5 km east of the laura, there is another chapel (see Qal'at Musa). This chapel, being close to the laura's burial caves, may have served as a funerary chapel, if one accepts Hirschfeld's opinion. Dwellings: Dwelling cells are scattered on the slopes on both sides of the canyon, along the paths, over an area of about 30,000 m2. Six cells are located on the southern bank and nine on the northern bank. The cells average in size 4 x 6 m. The remains of an isolated cell were found about 1 km west of the others on the northern bank. Burials: A masonry burial located below the cliff near the cave church may have been the tomb of Chariton. A cemetery with tombs inscribed with crosses, located one km east of the laura's core, apparently belonged to the monastery. Cave/s: The use of caves was prominent in the laura. Caves were used for the church, monks' dwellings and burial. Some of the caves used by the laura had been used in the first century CE as hiding caves by rebels during the revolt against the Romans. Kitchen: About 25 m west of the church is a large Byzantine structure paved in white mosaic. This may have served for various domestic uses. Water installations: The reservoir had a capacity 600 m3. It was hewn into the rock at the foot of the south cliff and was plastered with a reddish hydraulic plaster. Garden: Small garden plots were found next to the dwelling cells. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryDated to 6th -8th century CE. Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 30,000Large StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location cave unknown Dwelling type: cellsTombs type: Burial chamberBuilt pathsWater installations: CisternsSpringInscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Phase 2 Abandonment General outline: It is not known to what extent the laura was built at the time of foundation.Dating material: Founded by Chariton ca. 330 CE based on literary sources (see literary sources section). Phase dateCentury: 4th c.Within century: First half General outline: Most of the structures of the laura's core were probably constructed later than the foundation date.Dating material: Pottery finds were dated to 6th-8th centuries. Phase dateCentury: 5th-6th c. General outline: The laura may have been active into the Early Islamic period.Dating material: The latest pottery was dated to the eighth century CE. Phase dateCentury: 8th c.
