Khan el-Ahmar - EUTHYMIUS

Vertical tabs

Source of knowledge
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors: 
NameDate
Conder and Kitchener
1871-1877
Excavated site
Excavators: 
NameDate
Chitty and Jones
1928-1930
Meimaris
1970's
Birger and Hirschfeld
1987-1989
Tal
1990's (not published)
Tal and Ben-Ziony
1990's (not published)
Fogel
2000's (not published)
Har-Even and Yuzefovsky
2000's (not published)
History: 
The monastery was founded by Euthymius in 428 CE. It was his third foundation, after the monastery of Theoctistus and the monastery at Caparbaricha. According to Cyril of Scythopolis, who described the foundation in detail, Euthymius settled in a cave in the plain now known in Hebrew as Mishor Adumim. With time he was joined by 12 desciples and the laura was constructed with the help of Euthymius' Saracen followers. After the death of Euthymius in 478, the laura was converted in 482 into a communal monastery, in accordance with his will. The monastery continued to function into the 7th century and was badly damaged in an earthquake in 659 CE after which it was restored and continued to function. The monastery was abandoned sometime before the beginning of the 12th century as reported by the Russian Abbot Daniel who found it in ruins. The monastery was restored by the Crusaders in the twelfth century and abandoned once more when their kingdom fell. The site was surveyed several times and was excavated initially in the first half of the twentieth century by Chitty, later in the same century by Meimaris and later still by Hirschfeld and others.
State of certainty: 
Archaeologically and Literarily definitive
Architectural evolution
General outline: 
A laura was established by Euthymius, its church consecrated in 428 CE.
Dating material: 

Few remains of the original cells were found in the vicinity, they had probably been demolished when the laura became a coenobium.

Phase date
Century: 
5th c.
Within century: 
First half
General outline: 
In compliance with Euthymius' will, the laura became a coenobium and the monastery was built, surrounded by walls, a new church, courtyards and the crypt where Euthymius was interred.
Dating material: 

The excavations revealed that only the crypt could be dated to the Byzantine period while all the other elements were dated to the post Byzantine period.

Phase date
Century: 
5th-6th c.
General outline: 
Unlike many of the Judean Desert monasteries, the monastery of Euthymius was not abandoned in the early seventh century. It continued to function until it was severely damaged by an earthquake in 659 CE, following which it was restored.
Phase date
Century: 
7th c.
Within century: 
Second half
General outline: 
The monastery was abandoned before 1107. Its existence is testified to in the early ninth century (Commemoratorium de casis Dei) and the Russian abbot Daniel describes it as a walled compound but in ruins.
Dating material: 

Literary.

Phase date
Century: 
Middle Ages
Post Arab conquest history: 
Built anew
Post conquest history comments: 
Following the damage of the 659 CE earthquake, the monastery was restored. It was abandoned sometime before 1107 CE when the Russian Abbot Daniel visited the site. The monastery was restored in the Middle Ages by the Crusaders and once more abandoned with the destruction of the Crusader Kingdom.