Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, category(active tab)LocationSource of knowledgeGeneral descriptionDetailed descriptionArchitectural evolutionMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Ḥorvat SokhoMonastery name: Monastery (?)Monastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countrysideFormer ruin LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 19,743.8062,130.50 Coordinates, ICS system: 14,743.3011,213.03 Geographical region: ShephelahProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: EleutheropolisTopographical location: HillSoils: ChalkDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 12 km (Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis). Distance from Roman roads: At the NW slope of Tel Sokho, next to the road connecting Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis with Jerusalem. Source of knowledgeEpigraphyHide Archaeological remainsExcavated siteExcavators: NameDate NameDate Gudovitch 1980 Bibliograpy: Gudovitch, S., 199617*-23* Tzaferis, V., 199625*-27* Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012122-123 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: The tentative identification of the site as a monastery is based on an inscription found in the mosaic pavement, mentioning a deacon, a monk and two nuns. It is however unlikely that this was a monastery that housed monks and nuns as this was forbidden in the novels of Justinian and is quite contrary to monastic life. The sturcture was most likely a waystation on the road leading from the Shphelah to the Judean hills. State of certainty: Uncertain / Questionable General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The site is located on the northern side of Horvat Sokho (Tel Socoh) in the Judean Shephelah. It has been excavated revealing the remains of two mosaic paved halls, one of which was apparently a church, and two inscriptions in Greek. The remains were in a poor state of preservation. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures Hide General descriptionChurche/s: Two rooms were partially uncovered. Both rooms were paved in colorful mosaics and two inscriptions were found. The southern room is 5 m wide and about 6.4 m in length. In the center of the mosaic floor, a section was paved with stone tiles. The remains of the northern room were partial and its full size cannot be ascertained. A mosaic pavement (13 x 2.5 m) may have covered one side of the room which was possibly the church. The walls show remains of colored plaster. A bench, partially built and partially hewn, ran the full length of the south wall. At the eastern end of the northern room, a semicircular trench 3.3 m in diameter, may have been intended for an apse which was apparently not built. The excavator suggests that the church had originally been intended to be larger but was built in smaller dimensions. Water installations: A cistern is located east of the structure Hide Small finds Detailed descriptionHide StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone Hide ComponentsMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveGround floor Number of stories: 1Water installations: Cisterns0Painted plaster Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: Only two halls were uncovered, one of which was apparently a church.Dating material: Founded in the fifth century. Hide Phase dateCentury: 5th c. Hide Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: Yes General outline: The church functioned until the eighth century,Dating material: Based on iconoclastic damage to the mosaic paving. Hide Phase dateCentury: 8th c. Hide Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: Yes Post Arab conquest history: Still in use
