At-Taiyibe (Apharaema/Ephraim) - El-Khadr
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
At-Taiyibe (Apharaema/Ephraim)
Identification:
At-Taiyibe (abbreviation of et-Tayibet el-Ism, meaning "the nice name"), a counter measure against Arab Afrit derived from the ancient name Apharaema/Ephraim and meaning demon, given to the village by the Arabs after its conquest by Saladin in the 12th century CE). It is a Christian village inhabited by Christians since Late Antiquity.
The site is identified with the village of Apharaema/Ephraim or similar derivatives, mentioned in the Biblical and post-Biblical sources (see TIR: 64). Headquarters of a toparchy in southern Samaria. Christ was staying there with his disciples (Jo. 11, 54).
The dedication of the church to St. George explains the site name El-Khadr, or El-Khudr (meaning "the green"). Though it is dedicated today to St. George, in the twelfth century it might had been dedicated to St. Elias.
Variants: El-Khadr, El Khudr, El-Khidr, Kniseh Mar Djiris in At-Tayyibe.
Church name:
El-Khadr
Functional Type:
Parochial
Dedication:
St. George, or St. Elias
Church type:
Basilical - Annex\es on N & S
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
228.81
651.10
Coordinates, ICS system:
178.81
1,151.10
Geographical region:
Samaria Hills
Topographical location:
A solitary church is located on a high hill to the east of the main road, on the SE outskirts of the village.
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
Ca. 30 km north-east of Jerusalem.
Distance from nearest settlement:
Ca. 0.5 km south-east of the village of et-Taiyibe, 5 miles east of Bethel.
Distance from Roman roads:
Near the road between Antipatris (Aphek) and Jericho, or on the road from Bethel to Jericho. Several milestones were discovered near Taiyibeh, one of them with the Greek inscirption, mentioning Marcus Iunius Maximus, legatus of the Tenth legion Fretensis
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Jerusalem (?)
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Literary sources
Epigraphy:
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Guerin | 1860s |
Peters | 1904 |
A.M. Schneider | 1930/31 |
Bagatti | 1970s |
Finkelstein, Lederman and Bunimovitz | 1990s |
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Vincent Michel | 2000-2009 |
History:
A biblical site. In the Second Temple period it was a headquarters of a toparchy in southern Samaria. According to the Christian tradition, Christ was sojourning there with his disciples (Jo. 11, 54).
Bibliograpy:
39-44 | |
214-216 (no. 93) | |
166-167 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The present tri-conches structure is Mediaeval. Some remains of the early church were incorporated in it and few patches of the earlier mosaic floors were uncovered. According to V. Michel (2015), the original building, 28.50x14.80m in dimensions, was a mono-apsidal basilical church with an annexed sacristy on the south, near its eastern end. The hemispherical apse was protruding outside as a poligonal structure. The aisles, separated from the nave by two rows of five columns, terminated in dead ends. A monumental staircase on the west (13.25 m long, 1.9 m high), led to a narthex. All components were mosaic paved but only small segments are extant.
According to Michel's reconstruction a synthronon was built against the apse and an ambo projected from the NW corner of the sanctuary already in this early phase (II.1), attributed to the late 5th - early 6th c. The bema, U-shaped, had a single opening in the center of the chancel screen. An earlier hypogeum with six stairs leading in was found under the western end of the the northern aisle (Schneider 1931a: 20, Fig.7). These seems to had served a burial crypt. Remains of numerous skeletons and many oil lamps of various periods were found therein.
In the first half of the 6th century the basilica was enlarged (Phase II.2) and the mosaics renewed. The southern sacristy was replaced by an apsidal chapel accessed from near the eastern end of the aisle. The main entrance was from the narthex which was extended to the south to meet this addition. A four-units structure was annexed on the north. The westernmost unit, rectangular and longer than the other three, was accessed through an opening in the northern wall of the narthex. This unit was mosaic-paved and had a water cistern underneath. Michel suggests that it served as a baptistery; the the extant quadrifoil in a circle font (Ben-Pechat type 9a) was standing near its eastern wall. The two western units, square in shape, had a-liturgical functions according to Michel.
Phase II.3 is recognized by several modifications in the northern annex, including the installation of a bench.
Description
Illustrative material:
Atrium:
No atrium. A monumental staicase, 1.9m high, lead from the west to the narthex.
Narthex:
Open to the west by four columns. Along the western front of the basilica. Mosaic paved. In phase 2 it was extended southward, to serve the annexed chapel, and an openning was installed in its northern wall, leading to the baptistery.
Façade and entries:
A wide entrance led to the nave; a narrower one to the southern aisle. The northern aisle had no entrance due to the hypogeum underlying the western end of this aisle.
Lateral walls:
Thickness of walls: 0.90 m. approx.
Nave:
The nave was separated from the aisles by two rows of 5 columns with lotus-shaped capitals.
Aisles:
Dead-end aisles. An opening near the eastern end of the southern aisle led to the annexed sacristy. A stone lintel with a tabula ansata was found in situ over the entrance to the southern aisle. Segments of colored mosaics were found in the southern corner of the southern aisle.
The northern aisle had no entrance due to the hypogeum underlying the western end of this aisle (Schneider 1931a: 20, Fig.7). These seems to had served a burial crypt. Remains of numerous skeletons and many oil lamps of various periods were found therein.
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
The hemispherical apse was protruding outside as a poligonal structure. The lower four courses of the apse are built of hard limestone. According to Michel's reconstruction a synthronon was built against the apse and an ambo projected from the NW corner of the sanctuary already in this early phase (II.1), attributed to the late 5th - early 6th c. The bema, U-shaped, had a single opening in the center of the chancel screen.
Lateral spaces:
According to Michel (2015), the two aisles terminated on the east in a dead-end.
Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Pottery | In the burial cave near the church votive lamps were found |
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Atrium:
No
Water cistern:
Yes
Narthex:
Yes
Aisles:
2
Colonnades / Arcades:
Colonnade
Number of nave columns in a row:
| Total |
|---|
5 |
Capital types:
Trapezoidal
East end:
External apse, polygonal
Church Head/Chevet:
dead end aisles (mon-aps III)
Central Apse Category:
apsidal
Bema type:
U shaped
Bema type text:
According to Michel's reconstruction the bema, U-shaped, had a single opening in the center of the chancel screen. But at the absence of detailed plans and description, this might be hypothetical. Likewise his reconstruction of the synthronon built against the apse and an ambo projecting from the NW corner of the sanctuary already in the early phase, attributed to the late 5th - early 6th c.
Altar remains:
no remains
Altar type:
Stone, table-like
Altar reliquiarium type:
Base plate with a central depression
Altar location:
On the apse cord
Ambo:
Yes
Ambo remains:
base plate
Ambo location:
N
Ambo materials:
Lime stone
Ambo placement:
On a circular slab
Apse elevation:
Flush with the bema
Apse shape:
Hemispherical
Synthronon:
Yes
Synthronon location:
Against the apse
Synthronon description:
According to Michel's reconstruction a synthronon was built against the apse. But no details are provided to confirm its attribution to Phase 1, dated to the late 5th - early 6th c.
Lateral Apses Function
Location:
N & S
Northern apse description and function:
T
Crypt
Accessibility and description:
Six rock-cut stairs led in to an earlier hypogeum incorporated under the western end of the northern aisle (Schneider 1931a: 20, Fig.7).
Function:
It seems to had served as a burial crypt.
Crypt photos and plans:
Cult of relics
Cult of relics loci:
elsewhere
Reliquiaries: shapes and contents:
Two reliquary were found in the area of the church; none in situ. One, box-like, being incorporated in a late wall, had two compartments for relics, interconnected by a hole. Its dimensions: 41.5x45cm; height could not be determined. The second was cippus-like, 32x43m; 82cm high, with three compartments in its top. A hole in the narrow, central compartment enabled flow of oil outside, to a tiny niche installed near the top of the cippus. No lids were uncovered. Their original location could not be determined. The box-like might have been an under-altar reliquary.
Burial loci
Burials loci:
Near the north-west corner of the northern aisle an earlier hypogeum was incorporated (Schneider 1931a: 20, Fig.7). It seems to had served as a burial crypt. Remains of numerous skeletons and many oil lamps of various periods were found therein. It consisted of a single burial chamber containing three arcosolia.
Baptism
Loci:
See under the annex attached to the church on the north.
Font structure:
Monolithic
External shape:
circular
Internal shape:
quadrifoil
Ben-Pechat type:
9a
Attached structures
Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:
Apsidal chapel
Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:
In Phase 2 (II.2) the annexed southern sacristy was replaced by an apsidal chapel, 4.82x18.80m in dimensions, accessed from near the eastern end of the aisle. Its main entrance was from the narthex which was extended to the south, to meet this addition.
Baptistery:
Quadrangular chapel
Baptistery description:
The westernmost unit of the northern annex, rectangular and longer than the other three, was accessed through an opening in the northern wall of the narthex. This unit was mosaic-paved and had a water cistern underneath. Michel suggests that it served as a baptistery; the the extant circular font with a quadrifoil container (Ben-Pechat type 9a), 0.76 m high, 1.06 m in diameter, was standing near its eastern wall. An off-center opening in its eastern wall led to a second chamber, square in shape. It makes sense to assume that this room had a second opening to the northern aisle, though this is not indicated on Michel's reconstruction.
Sacristy / skeuophylakion:
Simple rectangular room
Sacristy / skeuophylakion description:
Originally, in Phase 1, a simple sacristy was attached on the south, accessed from near the eastern end of the southern aisle. In Phae 2 this sacristy was replaced by a long apsidal chapel, that seemingly served as a prothesis chapel/diakonikon.
Architectural Evolution
| Phase name (as published) | General outline | Dating material | Phase no. | Century | Within century |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
II.1 | A mono-apsidal basilical dead-end aisles, a narthex, a simple sacristy attached on the SE. All components were mosaic paved but only small segments are extant.
According to Michel's reconstruction, a synthronon was built against the apse and an ambo projected from the NW corner of the sanctuary already in this early phase. The bema, U-shaped, had a single opening in the center of the chancel screen. An earlier hypogeum with six stairs leading in was found under the western end of the the northern aisle (Schneider 1931a: 20, Fig.7). These seems to had served a burial crypt. Remains of numerous skeletons and many oil lamps of various periods were found therein. | The French expedition (Michel 2015) dated the first phase to the late 5th-early 6th century on the basis of pottery reading. | Phase 1 | 5th-6th c. | |
II.2 | In this phase the basilica was enlarged and some mosaics renewed. The southern sacristy was replaced by an apsidal chapel accessed from near the eastern end of the aisle. Its main entrance was from the narthex which was extended to the south to meet this addition. A four-units structure was annexed on the north. The westernmost unit, rectangular and longer than the other three, was accessed through an opening in the northern wall of the narthex. This unit was mosaic-paved and had a water cistern underneath. Michel suggests that it served as a baptistery; the the extant quadrilobite in a circle font (Ben-Pechat type 9a) was standing near its eastern wall. The two western units, square in shape, had a-liturgical functions according to Michel. | Pottery reading and mosaics style. | Phase 2 | 6th c. | First half |
II.3 | This phase is recognized by several modifications in the northern annex, including the installation of a bench. | Phase 3 | 7th-8th c. | ||
The church was destroyed by a sever fire, caused perhaps by an earthquake. | The Early Christian / Byzantine church was replaced by a triconch Crusaders church. | Abandonment | 8th c. | Mid |
Post Arab conquest history:
Modified
The medieval church occupies the central part of an earlier Byzantine complex, and its remains are in turn partly enclosed by still later constructions. This situation caused difficulties in understanding of the plan of the original Early Christian church. These dificulties were resolved by a meticolous survey and excavations by Michel and his team (2000-2009). Hence, earlier publications (Ovadiah's 1970: 66-67; Magen and Kagan 2012: 214-216; and even Ann Michel 2019, 166-167), according to which the Early Christian church had a triconche church-head should be dismissed. Pringle (1998: 339-344), rightly associates the triconche component with the Mediaeval church.