13033 - Cells of Choziba (cell no. 18) - Chapel (cell no. 18)

The development of the monastery of Choziba was gradual. In its early phase, the site was consecutively occupied by five hermits of Syrian origin: Promos, Elias, Gannaeus, Aias and Zenon (Anthony of Choziba, Miraculae beatae virginis Mariae in Choziba 5 [ed. C, House, AB 5 {1888} 366]). The five founders constructed a chapel and a second structure that served as a burial place. Towards the end of the fifth century, the monastery became a coenobium, was expanded and new structures were built by John of Thebes (Vailhé 1899: 526-527). The monastery functioned as a composite monastery containing a cenobitic core and a lauritic part consisting of cells dispersed over the cliffs some 1.5 km east of the core. The monastery continued to function into the middle ages although the cells of the laura were abandoned in the Early Islamic period, probably due to security issues. In the late nineteenth century, the monastery was rebuilt and is still functioning today. One or two of the cells of the laura were also in use in the twentieth century.