Khirbet Abu-Ghunneim - Church

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Khirbet Abu-Ghunneim

Identification:

Corbo identified the complex found at Kh. Abu Ghunneim as the monastery of Photeinos, founded by Marinos, near the village of Metopa, in the fifth century, mentioned by Cyril of Scythopolis (V. Euth. 8,16; V. Sab. 29, 114; V. Theodosius 2, 237).

Church name:

Church

Functional Type:

Monastic

Church type:

Chapel

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

221.00

625.90

Coordinates, ICS system:

171.00

1,125.90

Location:

Rural

Geographical region:

Judean Desert fringes

Topographical location:

The site is located on a hill.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

5 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

2.5 km (Bethlehem)

Distance from Roman roads:

1.5 km (the road connectiong Jerusalem with Bethlehem)

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Source of knowledge

Literary sources

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Corbo	1952

Bibliograpy:

Corbo, V. C., 1954

Corbo, V. C., 1955

Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site was excavated in 1952 revealing a monastic complex. The enclosing walls were partially preserved but the interior was in a poor state of preservation. On the northern side there is an apsidal chapel, 5.10x16.7m in dimensions; in the center a vast courtyard with a water cistern in its middle. The dimension of the complex are 24.75x18.40m.

The chapel, accessed from the south, was later divided by three walls ser on the mosaic floors into four units.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Kh. Abu Ghunneim - general plan of the site (Malka 2012 II: 95, n 217)

Façade and entries:

The chapel was accessed from the south via two openings.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

A semi-circular (2.25 m radius) internal apse with a rectangular exterior. Two steps lead to the apse from the hall, a chancel screen with a central opening is separating the two. Three fragments of an altar base were found.

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

East end:

External apse, quadrangular

Elevation of Bema above nave:

2 steps up

Altar remains:

base plate

Attached structures

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:

Simple rectangular room

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:

A large room with traces of mosaic floor was annexed to the chapel on the south. Its southern end is missing.To its west a vast space with two opening led to the chapel. On the south it was open to the courtyard. A third room was annexed to the chapel farther west, next to the western end of the chapel.

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

The monastery and its church were founded in the fifth century. Corbo identified the complex as the monastery of Photeinos, founded by Marinos, near the village of Metopa, in the fifth century, mentioned by Cyril of Scythopolis (V. Euth. 8,16; V. Sab. 29, 114; V. Theodosius 2, 237).

Dating material:

The pottery assemblage is dated to 5th-6th centuries (the majority to fifth)

Founded 5^th c based on pottery assemblage.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

General outline:

The monastery and church were abandoned sometime in the Early Islamic period.

Phase date

Century:

7th c?

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned

Post conquest history comments:

In the Early Islamic period the church was divided into three spaces and used apparently in a domestic capacity.