Deir el-Muqalik - THEOCTISTUS

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Deir el-Muqalik

Identification:

Identification of the site, located in the central part of Nahal Og (Wadi el Muqallik), with the monastery of Theoctistus was suggested by Féderlin. Based on the finds at the site, this identification has been accepted.

Monastery name:

THEOCTISTUS

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Desert

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

23,690.00

63,180.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

18,690.00

13,180.00

Geographical region:

Judean Desert

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Cliff

Soils:

limestone

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

15 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

4.5 km south of the road connecting Jerusalem with Jericho.

Source of knowledge

HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Euthymius and Theoctistus establish the coenobium of Theoctistus, AD 411.
2	Euthemius’ teachings and nature of the monastery and church.
3	Story of Terebon.
4	On the water supply of the monastery.
5	After the death of Theoctistus, AD 466, Terebon’s uncle Maris is appointed new abbot of the monastery.
6	The young Sabas enters Theoctistus’ monastery, AD 457.
7	Sabas is granted permission by the abbot to go into seclusion in a cave, AD 469.
8	The monasteries of Euthymius and Theoctistus split up on account of economic friction and the common property was divided, ca. AD 485.
9	In the 8th cent. the monastery is in ruin, the grave of the elders is concealed, and the monk Christophorus lives alone in Theoctistus’ cave.

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Invocation (?) – grafitto on a rock wall in the cistern near the monastery.
2	Invocation on behalf of John, written in yellow paint on the roof of the cave-church.
3	Christian acclamation – grafitto on a rock wall in the cistern near the monastery.
4	Fresco of the crucifixion with St. John the Theologian and beginning of a liturgical hymn, in the larger of the two hanging niches in the rock face above the cave-church.
5	Small fragments of a black dipinto on white plaster in the eastern wall to the south of the apsis (CIIP IV.1 no. 3164), and of a funerary (?) inscription in local asphaltitic limestone (no. 3165), in the church-cave of the monastery, not included.
6	Christogram and remians of painted inscription, near the back of the apsis of the cave-church.
7	Painted funerary wall inscription with quotations from John, above the entrance to the burial complex of the monastery.
8	Fresco of Jesus with quotations of John and Matthew, from the roof of the apsis of the cave-church.
9	Painted inscription at the foot of a painted Golgotha, above the entrance to the burial complex of the monastery.
10	Painted red cross with a Christian acclamation, on the dome of a small cave-chapel in extramural hermitage, about 180 m. from the monastery complex.
11	Graffito for the memory of Georgius and Basilius, incised on a wall in the south-west corner of the burial cave.
12	Graffito for the memory of John, incised above the entrance to the burial complex of the monastery.
13	Dedicatory grafitto of Thomas the deacon, incised on the wall near the entrance to the burial complex.
14	Painted Psalm quotation in three parts, at the foot of the Ascension scene in the apsis of the cave-church.
15	Painted inscription with names of apostles and evangelists, on the north wall of the apsis of the cave-church.
16	Christian acclamation within a cross – grafitto on a rock wall in the cistern near the monastery.
17	Invocation (?) of Stephanus on the wall in the apsis of the cave-church.
18	Invocation of Christ on behalf of John and Parthenopa – grafitto on a rock wall in the cistern near the monastery.
19	Remains of a fresco with painted inscription, on the western face of the apsis of the cave-church.
20	Invocation of the Lord on behalf of Axilna – grafitto on a rock wall in the cistern near the monastery.

Pages

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Drake	1874
Conder and Kitchener	1871-1877
Féderlin	1903
Chitty	1928
Hirschfeld	1987
Sion	1991

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Chitty	1929
Blomme and Nodet	1979

History:

According to Cyril of Scythopolis, the monastery was established in 411 CE by Euthymius and his friend Theoctistus in a "ravine south of the Jericho road, ten miles (14.8 km) from Jerusalem". They had originally intended to establish a laura but due to the rough terrain had eventually decided on a coenobium. Euthymius left to establish other monasteries while Theoctistus stayed and the monastery was named after him. The site was occupied up to the medieval period after which it was abandoned.

Bibliograpy:

Drake, C. F. T., 1874	72-73
Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883	198
Vailhé, S., 1900	19-48; 75-8; 272-92
Marcoff, M. and Chitty, D. J., 1929	167-68
Meinardus, O., 1964-1965	220-50
Ovadiah, A., 1970	47-8
Mann, G., 1973-1974	34-9
Blomme, Y. and Nodet, E., 1979	462-64
Patrich, J., 1985	21
Di Segni, L. and Patrich, J., 1987	272-81; English summary: 81*
Patrich, J., 1987/88	66-70
Hirschfeld, Y., 1988/89	95-104
Hirschfeld, Y., 1990	12-13
Hirschfeld, Y., 1992	34-6
Sion, O. and Rikklin, S., 1993	113-20
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	111
Goldfus, H., Arubas, B. and Alliata, E., 1995	247-92
Schick, R., 1995
Patrich, J., 1995
Goldfus, H., 1997	194-200
Di Segni, L., 2005	81-4
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	62-4

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

Most of the effort of investigation of this monastery was concentrated on the elaborate cave church, while the rest of it was mostly ignored by the investigators. Goldfuss et al. noted massive masonry walls close by that are of an east-west and north-south orientation but no further investigations have been reported. We are therefore unable to ascertain the plan of the monastery at present.

State of certainty:

Archaeologically and Literarily definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The area at the base of the cliff was leveled to accommodate the complex. This was supported by a 95 m. long retaining wall that has survived in places to a height of 2.5- 5 m. A massive support pier has also survived. The most prominent remains at the site, and those that have been examined most intensively are those of the cave church. An extramural hermitage attributed to St. Sabas was recorded on the southern cliff of the wadi. Opposite it, on the northern bank, several Greek inscriptions with crosses and a pair of peacocks were incised on the rock above a bench and a water cistern. Another extramural hermitage with a chapel was recorded by Chitty at some distance upstream. See under Epigraphy.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

General description

Paths:

A well preserved, paved path connects the monastery with the monastery of Euthymius at Mishor Adumim, four km away. A masonry built flight of steps leads from the center of the monastery up to the cave church.

Gate/s:

The entrance to the monastery precinct is marked by a gateway located in the west and placed in the wall built across the width of the shelf on which the monastery is situated. The passage through the gate is flanked by two rooms. The thickness of the walls and the quantity of fallen debris suggests that it had a second story. On the eastern side of the courtyard there may have been a second, inner gate leading into the inner part of the monastery. The remains of a second, smaller gatehouse are to be found at the eastern side of the monastery.

Courtyards:

A small interior courtyard, bounded by a stone railing on its southern side and the cliff on its northern side, is reached via a narrow passage from the gate.

Tower/s:

In the eastern part of the complex, east of the stairway leading to the cave church, a two story tower has survived, dated to the medieval period. The tower, at the time of investigation was intact to its full two stories, with a vaulted stone ceiling.

Churche/s:

The church complex consists of natural caves with hewn areas and a constructed six story structure abutting it. The complex consists of a prayer hall, narthex, annexes, storeroom and a burial complex. Its entrance is in the cliff face about 9 m above the ground. Frescoes found in the church are dated to the medieval period. Remains of a public building, quite possibly a second church, are about 35 m to the east of the cave church. This second structure has hewn walls oriented east-west. At the eastern end there is curvature, suggesting an apse. The floor is partially hewn in the rock with the southern end constructed over what seems to have been a crypt. Remains of colored stones are probably remains of the church paving.

Dwellings:

Two extramural hermitage were recorded.

Burials:

A large natural cave containing many human remains was found. It is not known to date if these belonged to the resident monks, pilgrims or others. A second burial complex is located in the cave church. The complex, originally a natural cavity was enlarged by hewing and walls were constructed and plastered. It is accessed via an opening in the floor of the narthex,

Cave/s:

A passage leads from the gate into a small courtyard near a large natural cave. The cave was probably used as a stable (see below). About 70 m east of the gate, above the path, there is a natural cave which was used for burials (see above).

Hostelry:

Traces of a campsite for visitors included a bench, a cistern and several holes in the cliff for hitching up pack animals.

Stable:

The large cave north of the courtyard was probably used as a stable. This is based on holes in the rock wall where apparently animals could be tethered. The cave is ca. 17 m long and an average of 9 m wide, with a ceiling reaching 5 m.

Water installations:

The remains of a large rock cut reservoir (16.5 m long) can be seen near the cliff. A round cistern (3.2 m diameter), fed by a channel collecting runoff water from the cliff, was preserved at the foot of the church.

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Tower/s

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
cave
unknown			Ground floor

Stable

Hostelry

Tombs type:

Burial chamber

Built paths

Retaining walls

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Painted plaster

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Abandonment

General outline:

The massive retaining wall (ca. 95 m long) and the other structures have been dated to the Byzantine period. No excavations have taken place to enable more precise dating.

Dating material:

The monastery was founded by Euthymius and Theoctistus in 411 CE based on the literary source.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Early

General outline:

According to a source (see Literary sources), in the eighth century the monastery was in ruins but occupied by some hermits.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

General outline:

The two story tower was constructed and frescoes were added to the cave church.

Dating material:

Medieval, based on the vaulted ceiling and the style of the wall paintings in the cave church.

Phase date

Century:

12th c.

General outline:

The monastery was occupied through the Middle Ages as testified by the tower and wall paintings. It was apparently abandoned sometime after that but no precise dating has been proposed.

Dating material:

Tower and wall paintings.

Phase date

Century:

Other

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use