13126 - Deir Qrukh - Church of Saint Gregory.

Export to text file
Save as pdf (ctrl P )

Deir Qrukh - Church of Saint Gregory.

Church Name, type, function

Site Name: 
Deir Qrukh
Identification: 
Deir Qeruh
Church name: 
Church of Saint Gregory.
Functional Type: 
Monastic
Dedication: 
Saint Gregory
Church type: 
Basilical - Annex\es on the north

Location

Coordinates, ITM system: 
270,235.00
756,937.00
Coordinates, ICS system: 
220.23
256.93
Geographical region: 
Golan Heights
Topographical location: 
A basalt plateau.
Distance from nearest settlement: 
0.8 km. east of Gamla.
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina II

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy: 

Archaeological remains

Excavated site
Excavators: 
NameDate
Ma'oz, Z.
1982
Bibliograpy: 
Ma'oz, Z. U., 1983
Ma‘oz, Z. U., 1993
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994
Schick, R., 1995
Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered: 
The church is located in the south-eastern part of the monaster, being separated from it by a courtyard located north west of the church. It includes a narthex, a basilical prayer hall with a quadrangular apse flanked by two lockable pastophoria and an annexed trapezoidal chapel on the north. Dimensions: 10.1X16.2 m. walls preserved to the height of 5 m.

Description

Illustrative material: 
Narthex: 

It had four openings. One leading in from the west and hence to the prayer hall; a third, on the south, leading to a separate room, and the fourth - on the north' leading outside, to a stone paved courtyard located on the NW. Roofed by basalt beams (did not survive) resting on protruding brackets, located 3.4 m. above the ground. Dimensions: 2.1X5.5 m.

Façade and entries: 

The prayer hall had a single doorway, leading in from the narthex to the nave. A second opening connected between the northern aisle and an attached trapezoidal room on the north. 

Lateral walls: 

Walls of well-dressed basalt stones, fitted without mortar. Entrances and windows built of smooth ashlars.

Nave: 

Paved by a narrow basalt slabs, several of the slabs were sunken and used as a stylobate for pilasters separating the nave from the aisles. 4X7.6 m.

Aisles: 

2.15X7.6 m each.

Bema, chancel screen and apse: 

The quadrangular sanctuary, 3.45X4.2 m. in dimensions, is 0.9 m. higher than the nave and reached through two limestone steps. The lower step is grooved, evidence of a chancel screen and posts. In the apse two long dresses stones with four square holes are a probable evidence of an altar. The wall was coated with hard gray plaster.

Lateral spaces: 

Two lockable pastophoria.

Small finds

Small finds: 
CategoryDescription
Pottery
Fragments of 6th century storage jars, found under the plaster floors of the Pastophoria.
Oil lamps
Three whole pottery lamps, dated to the 7th century, found in the south west corner of the prayer hall.
Inscription - see under epigraphy
A Greek inscription was found on the chapel's lintel: " The God of Saint Gregoty, save and have mercy on those who believe in You, Amen"
Small finds illustrative material: 

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation: 
Facing east
Materials applied (walls): 
Basalt
Materials applied (roofing): 
slabs
Narthex: 
Yes
Aisles: 
2
Colonnades / Arcades: 
Arcade of pillars
Number of nave columns in a row: 
Total
3
East end: 
Internal apse
Church Head/Chevet: 
monoapsidal with lockable pastophoria (mon-aps II)
Central Apse Category: 
quadrangular
Bema type: 
Miscellaneous shape
Bema type text: 
The bema is in the square room which is elevated by two steps from the nave .
Elevation of Bema above nave: 
2 steps up
Altar remains: 
imprints
Altar type: 
Stone, table-like
Altar location: 
Inside the apse

Pastophoria

Pastophoria loci: 
N & S
Description and function of northern: 
1.8X3.2 m. entered through a doorway from the aisle and a doorway from the quadrangular sanctuary. The remaining roof belongs to the modern period. Three plaster floors were built one on top of the other. Pottery sherds were found underneath.
Description and function of southern: 
1.8X3.2 m. entered through a doorway from the aisle. The extant roof beams that belong to the Mamluk period are resting on the original brackets, located 2.5 m. above floor level. Three plaster floors built one on top of the other, under them pottery was found.

Attached structures

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon: 
Trapezoidal room
Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description: 
Annexed on the north. Paved by stone slabs. Entrance from the west through a doorway containing a lintel with an inscription. A doorway on the south leads to the northern aisle. Dimensions: 3.4X5.7 m.

Architectural Evolution

Phase name (as published)General outlineDating materialPhase no.CenturyWithin century
Stratum IIIA
see description.

Late Byzantine period.

Phase 1
6th c.
Stratum IIIB
Replacements of the rows of columns, in the nave, with two large arches 5.7 m. wide and 4.5 m. high. Piers built on top of the first phase floor. Changes in the apse. Addition of a bench in the corner of the nave. Stone pavement in the nave replaced with a plaster floor. Chapel and courtyard pavements repaired.

Late Byzantine period.

Phase 2
7th c.

The excavators believe that the church and monastery were abandoned after the Arab conquest.

 

Abandonment
7th c.
First half
Post Arab conquest history: 
Abandoned