Cells of Choziba (cell no. 9) - Church of the Cells/Laura of St. Anne
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Cells of Choziba (cell no. 9)
Identification:
The chapel in cell no. 9 was named "The church of the Cells consecrated to Joachim and Anne" by Koikylides. Meinardus erroneously identified it as a laura in its own right naming it "The Laura of St. Anne". Patrich identified it definitively as a private chapel belonging to one of the cells of the monastery of Choziba.
Church name:
Church of the Cells/Laura of St. Anne
Functional Type:
Hermitage chapel
Church type:
Cave chapel
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
240.20
639.72
Coordinates, ICS system:
190.20
1,139.72
Geographical region:
Judean Desert
Topographical location:
Cliff
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
ca. 4 km (Jericho)
Distance from nearest settlement:
ca. 4 km (Jericho)
Distance from Roman roads:
ca. 4 km from the Jordan Valley road.
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Jerusalem
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Literary sources
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Koikylides | 1901 |
Meinardus | 1964-1965 |
Patrich | 1986-1987 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The chapel was restored in 1897.
Description
Illustrative material:
Nave:
The chapel is of an irregular, elongated shape. It is ca. 8.5 m long and 3.75 m wide in front of the bema with an apse in the eastern wall.
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
An apse (2.35 in diameter and 1.4 m deep) is located in the eastern rock wall of the cave.
Small finds
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Atrium:
No
Water cistern:
Yes
Narthex:
No
East end:
Internal apse
Altar type:
Chest-shaped
Altar location:
Inside the apse
Secondary tables:
The altar is built like a cubic block, 0.85 x 0.80 m and 0.95 m high.
Apse shape:
Hemispherical
Architectural Evolution
| General outline | Dating material | Iconoclastic evidence | Phase no. | Century | Within century |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The chapel, forming part of a cell is located in a cave. | Literary sources. | Phase 1 | 5th c. | Second half | |
The cells were abandoned following the historic events in the first half of the seventh century. | Abandonment | 7th c. | First half |
Post Arab conquest history:
Abandoned
Post conquest history comments:
Following the violent events of the early seventh century CE, the cells were abandoned for security reasons. The coenobium part of the monastery continued to function. Some of the cells were restored in modern times and served as dwellings for monks for a while.