Jerusalem (Greater Jerusalem) - Givat Hananya (Deir Abu Tor)

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Church Name, type, function
Site Name: 
Jerusalem (Greater Jerusalem)
Church name: 
Givat Hananya (Deir Abu Tor)
Functional Type: 
Monastic
Church type: 
Basilical - Free standing basilica
Location
Coordinates, ITM system: 
221.61
630.39
Coordinates, ICS system: 
171.61
1,130.40
Location: 
Para-urban
Geographical region: 
Jerusalem (Greater Jerusalem)
Topographical location: 
The church is located on a hill in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Abu Tor.
Distance from nearest bishop-seat: 
ca. 0.8 km south of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Distance from Roman roads: 
ca. 1 km east of the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina I
Bishopric: 
Jerusalem
Source of knowledge
Epigraphy
Hide Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors: 
NameDate
Conder and Kitchener
1871-1877
Montgomery
1922
Excavated site
Excavators: 
NameDate
Sion
2003
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered: 

Three-aisled basilica, measured ca. 18.70 (survived length) x10.44 m. The nave was completed with semicirclular apse within the rectangular walls. At the second architectural stage two lateral pastophoria were. Their eastern walls ran in line with the eastern wall of the apse. Various architectural members were revealed. 

The western part of the church did not survived. 

In 2003 a cistern at the distance of 50 m to the west of the church was excavated. It was rectangular, covered with vault ceiling ( https://dig.corps-cmhl.huji.ac.il/sites/default/files/styles/large/publi...) . Measured: 9.8 × 0.7 m, height 5.5 m, ca. 150 cu m. It was suggectes, that this extensive cistern was part of monastic complex.

Hide Description
Illustrative material: 
Lateral walls: 

The walls are built of ashlars (thickness - ca. 1.50 m). Some of them have drafted margins The walls of the pastophoria rooms are built of unhewn stones.

Nave: 

The nave was separated from the aisles by two rows of columns but the number of columns is unknown.

Aisles: 

In the southern aisle a coloured mosaic floor with geometric patterns has survived.

Bema, chancel screen and apse: 

At the first phase the apse was external (depth of the apse - 2.05 m, chord - 3.40 m). The bema did not survived.

Lateral spaces: 

Two pastophoria rooms (approx. 2.8 X 1.6 m) were added in later stage. The entrance to the pastophoria was from outside of the church.

Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt
Hide Small finds
Detailed description
Hide Structure
Orientation: 
Facing east
Materials applied (walls): 
Limestone
Materials applied (roofing): 
tiles
timber
Water cistern: 
Yes
Aisles: 
2
East end: 
Internal apse
Church Head/Chevet: 
monoapsidal with lockable pastophoria (mon-aps II)
Central Apse Category: 
apsidal
Apse shape: 
Hemispherical
Synthronon: 
No
Hide Pastophoria
Pastophoria loci: 
N & S
Description and function of northern: 
Pastophoria, as Schneider had noted, were built in a more coarse technique from fieldstones. So, he had assumed, that they were added at the second architectural phase. Measured: 2.80x1.60 m.
Hide Crypt
Accessibility and description: 
It was discovered in 1913-4. Located under the north aisle of the church. Montgomery called it a catacomb church. Schneider conceived it as a burial chapel, predating the church. The chamber was partially hewn in rock and partially built with ashlars. It was accessed from the northern aisle by a flight of steps. The central chamber measured 4.8 X 2.7 m, 2.8 m high. Roofed with vaulted ceiling. In the eastern wall there is a central apse and north of it another much smaller apsidal niche. Two rectangular niches for cupboards were cut in the northern wall.
Function: 
Seemingly a burial crypt. Schneider suggested that the crypt was earlier than the church itself.
Crypt photos and plans: 
Architectural Evolution
General outline: 
Basilical church with external apse (quadrangular from outside; semicircular on the inside), and a crypt under the northern aisle.
Dating material: 

The crypt probably precedes the church and is from the fourth century. The church itself was seemingly constructed during the sixth century.

Hide Phase date
Century: 
6th c.