Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Jerusalem (Extra mural)Monastery name: ST. STEPHEN monateryMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: UrbanPilgrimsSource of sacredness: Sacred Objects LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 221,809.00632,451.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 171,811.00132,429.00 Geographical region: Jerusalem (extra-mural)Provincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: Level ground0Distance from nearest settlement: Some 320 m north of today's Damascus Gate.Distance from Roman roads: Adjacent to the road leading from Jerusalem to Shechem-Neapolis. Source of knowledgeHideLiterary sources Text number Summary 1 Empress Eudocia appoints Gabriel abbot of the Church of Stephen the protomartyr, AD 456. 2 On Gabriel, priest of the Church of the Resurrection and abbot of Saint Stephen for twenty-four years, AD 456-480/1. EpigraphyArchaeological remainsExcavated siteExcavators: NameDate Vincent and Abel1881-1894 University of Notre Dame Id.2000 Bibliograpy: Lagrange, P. M-J., 1894 Vincent, L. H. and Abel, F. M., 1914743-804 Ovadiah, A., 197077-78 Goldfus, H., 1997117-27 Driscoll, M.S. and Sheridan, S.G., 2000453-68 Ullinger, J.M., 200222-25 Gregoricka, L.A. and Sheridan, S.G., 201363-73 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Archaeologically and Literarily definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: In the early excavations in the late ninteenth century, no remains of the monastery were reported. An excavation in 2000 revealed a burial complex, originally belonging to the First Temple period, that had been used for burial of the monastic community. General descriptionCourtyards: An atrium is located west of the church. Churche/s: The church is a large, single apse basilica (38 x 19 m). The church was entered via 3 doorways in its western wall. Additional doorways were in the north (1) and south (1). The church was diveded into a nave and two aisles by two rows of 6 columns each (two remaining in situ). An external apse (5 m depth) was polygonal on the outside. Liturgical furniture and a reliquary were found. Burials: A large burial complex of was found beneath the modern day St. Etienne, belonging to the Byzantine period monastery. The complex consisted of a large central room opening into several smaller chambers containing benches and a large repository for bones. The burial chambers are partially constructed and partially hewn. Burials were found beneath the atrium of the church consisting of trough tombs, a sarcophagus and arcosolia. A second burial area was located southwest of the church. This had originally been a First Temple burial area. A rolling stone was installed at the entrance of one of the burial chambers. Hostelry: A pilgrims' hospice was found nearby (Third Wall B) which could have belonged to the complex. Water installations: Two large cisterns were found nearby. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription Bonessome 15,000 human skeleton parts were found, estimated at 177-250 individuals. Detailed descriptionStructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsEnclosing wallRolling stone: at caveNumber of rolling stone: 1Courtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location basilicalJerusalem (Extra mural) - ST. STEPHENGround floor HostelryTombs type: Cist tombBurial chamberOssiligiumArcosoliumWater installations: Cisterns Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The church of St. Stephen was constructed by the Empress Eudocia between 431-439 CE. It was consecrated in 460 CE after the deposition of St. Stephen's relics and the construction of the monastery.Phase dateCentury: 5th c.Within century: Second half General outline: The church was destroyed in the Persian invasion. Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: Early Post Arab conquest history: AbandonedPost conquest history comments: The church was restored in the Crusader period.
