[Rendered Node]


                    Beit Jimal - ST. STEPHEN
            
      
      Church Name, type, function
      Site Name:&nbsp;Beit JimalChurch name:&nbsp;ST. STEPHENFunctional Type:&nbsp;MemorialDedication:&nbsp;St. StephenChurch type:&nbsp;Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel
      Location
      Coordinates, ITM system:&nbsp;
  
    197.87625.81  

Coordinates, ICS system:&nbsp;
  
    147.861,125.80  

Geographical region:&nbsp;Judean HillsTopographical location:&nbsp;On a hill.Distance from nearest bishop-seat:&nbsp;ca. 13 km northeast of Eleutheropolis and ca. 24 km southwest of Jerusalem.Provincial affiliation:&nbsp;Palaestina IBishopric:&nbsp;Eleutheropolis
      Source of knowledge
      Epigraphy:&nbsp;HideEpigraphy
        
  
            Text number          
                  
            Summary          
              
    
            1          
                  
            Fragmentary Greek mosaic inscription set in a round medallion in the mosaic pavement of the nave.
          
              
      Archaeological remains
      Bibliograpy:&nbsp;

 Gisler, M., 1917 
 Abel, F. M., 1919 
 Gisler, F. M., 1923 
 Ovadiah, A., 1970 
 Strus, A., 1988 
 Strus, A. and Gibson, S., 2005 
 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 201279-81, no. 206. 


Abbreviation for Journals and Series
      General description
      State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:&nbsp;Basilical church with a narthex, rectangular external apse,&nbsp;dead end aisles and two units annex on the south. Only the southeastern part of the basilica and the&nbsp;annexed wing were uncovered. The estimated dimensions of the basilica are 11.6 X 8.5 m.

      Description
      Illustrative material:&nbsp;

      
                    Illustrative_material
            
      
  Photos
Figures

  
Narthex:&nbsp;Apparently double narthex, internal and external. The internal measures 8.5 X 2.5 m.
Façade and entries:&nbsp;Three entrances led to the nave and aisles from the narthex. Only the southern entrance has been found.
Lateral walls:&nbsp;The walls are 0.8 m thick.
Nave:&nbsp;The nave, 5 m wide, is separated from the aisles by two rows of three columns, resting on stylobates. The distance between the columns is 2 m. The nave is paved with a colored mosaic in geometric patterns. A partially prrserved Greek inscription of at least five lines, placed within a circular frame is set into the nave's mosaic floor near the entrance to the bema.
Aisles:&nbsp;The dead end aisles are 1.75 m wide. In the southern wall of the southern aisle there are two entrances leading into the southern annexed wing. A square stone at the eastern end of the aisle, led over the mosaic floor, might have served as a base of a secondary table for the placement of relics. 
Bema, chancel screen and apse:&nbsp;The bema is U-shaped, without lateral openings. Remains of the chancel screen were found. The 1922 excavations indicated that the apse was semicircular rather than quadrangular (following the earlier publication of Abel (1919, reproduced by Ovadiah 1970). It was 2.5 m deep and 3.8 m wide.
Lateral spaces:&nbsp;The aisle are "dead-end". A square stone, 0.75x0.75m in dimensions placed over the mosaic floor at the eastern end of the northen aisle might had supported a secondary table for a relic. 
Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt
      Small finds
      
      Detailed description
      
      Structure
      Orientation:&nbsp;Facing eastMaterials applied (walls):&nbsp;LimestoneMaterials applied (roofing):&nbsp;tilestimberNarthex:&nbsp;YesAisles:&nbsp;2Number of nave columns in a row:&nbsp;
 Total  

 3 


East end:&nbsp;External apse, quadrangularChurch Head/Chevet:&nbsp;dead end aisles (mon-aps III)Central Apse Category:&nbsp;quadrangularBema type:&nbsp;U shaped without lateral openingsAltar remains:&nbsp;no remainsAmbo:&nbsp;NoApse elevation:&nbsp;Flush with the bemaSynthronon:&nbsp;No
      Crypt
      Accessibility and description:&nbsp;The crypt, rock cut and comprising of two spaces, was located under the floor of the southern aisle, at its eastern end. The second space extended under the sanctuary. A flight of six steps led down into the crypt from the square, eastern room of the southern wing. The crypt had two oval spaces. The first smaller than the second, located farther north. The passage between the two was blocked at some later time. Function:&nbsp;According to one tradition, the crypt was the burial place of St. Stephen, the protomartyr.
      Attached structures
      Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:&nbsp;Quadrangular chapelProthesis chapel / Diakonikon description:&nbsp;A unit of at least two interconnected rooms was annexed along the whole southern wall of the church. It looks like a quadrangular chapel, though no screen was discerned. The western, elongated room is rectangular, extending west even beyond the narthex. Its floor was white mosaic paved. In its northern wall was installed an opening to an underlying cistern. The eastern, square room had two openings in its northern wall. One connecting it to the southern aisle; a staircase installed in the second led down to the crypt. The room was paved in crude mosaic pavement, 0.34m higher than the floor of the basilica. The floor of the western unit is still 0.14m higher. Baptistery:&nbsp;Quadrangular chapelBaptistery description:&nbsp;Abel (1919) suggested that the long hall attached to the basilical church on the south served as a baptistery, due to the fact that a water cistern is located underneath. No baptismal font was uncovered. It might had rather served as a prothesis chapel (see above). The water cistern extended also northward under the southern aisle. Its mouth is in the passage connecting the aisle and the said hall.
      Architectural Evolution
      
 General outlineDating materialPhase no.Century 

 Basilical church with a narthex, rectangular external apse, dead end aisles and two units annex on the south.Dated to the 5th - 6th centuries, mostly on the base of the mosaics style.
Phase 15th-6th c. 
 No dates are given.
AbandonmentUnknown 


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