ʻAbud - Sta. Anastasia; Deir Nostas; Deir Nestesieh
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
ʻAbud
Identification:
The site name is variously written ‘Âbûd; ‘Abūd; el-‘Abūd; A’boud.
Church name:
Sta. Anastasia; Deir Nostas; Deir Nestesieh
Functional Type:
Monastic
Dedication:
Sta. Anastasia
Church type:
Chapel
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
206.60
658.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
156.60
1,158.10
Geographical region:
Southern and Western Samaria
Topographical location:
A mountain slope.
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
30 km from Jerusalem.
Distance from nearest settlement:
Part of the settlement of 'Abud.
Distance from Roman roads:
Overlooking the ancient road between Aphek-Antipatris and Jericho.
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Source of knowledge
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Conder, C. R. and Kitchener H. H. (PEF) | 1873 |
Schneider, A. M. | 1933 |
Bagatti, B. | 1959 |
Bibliograpy:
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
A chapel 12.6X5.8m in dimensions (according to Ovadiah); 14.1X7.3m (according to Pringle) or 10.6X5.9 m (according to Malka). Guerin describes a basilical church with a narthex, but the findings are those of a chapel.
Description
Illustrative material:
Façade and entries:
One entrance at the western wall and one window (or a niche) at the southern wall.
Lateral walls:
Thickness of walls is 0.7 m (According to Ovadiah) or 1.1 m (According to Pringle).
Nave:
The curvature of the inside wall-faces indicates that the nave was barrel-vaulted, Probably with a pointed profile. Near the eastern end of the southern wall there still survives a pointed-arched opening, 3.6 m wide (Pringle).
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
Depth of the apse is 1.7m.
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Pottery | Sherds of orange-fires coarse pottery were found in the mortar of the walls, and sherds of coarse unglazed pottery were found around the site. |
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Atrium:
No
Water cistern:
No
Narthex:
No
East end:
External apse, quadrangular
Central Apse Category:
apsidal
Architectural Evolution
| Dating material | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|
Seventh to eighth century according to Schneider, based on the style of the building. Ninth to eleventh century according to Pringle, based on the style of the opening to the south. | Phase 1 | 10th c. |
There is no evidence to date the abandonment of the church. | Abandonment | Unknown |
Post Arab conquest history:
Built anew
Post conquest history comments:
There is no exact dating, but it appears the church was rebuilt after the conquest.
Conclusions:
The chapel seems to be Mediaeval. Pringle's date should be preferred.