Die Eremiten der Höhlenklöster. Das Beispiel der Felsenklöster in Phoenice Libanensis, Syrien

The following four selected monasteries, which are situated in the so called Phoenice Libanensis (Phoenice II), belong to the early Byzantine and Late antique rock monasteries of Syria: Deir Zağal in the region of Palmyra, Ma˙garet el- Ruhban, Wadi el- Ruhban in the Hermon Mountain and Deir el- Cherubim in the Qalamoun mountain range.

In these cave-monasteries diverse eremitical practises have been shown, which take place in a coenobitic monastery or in a laura/lavra, which is a loose union/connection of hermits. But also an honourable hermit could withdraw himself from the community, which in the 6^th-7^th century was something very usual in Syria. These hermits had an alternative monastic life in comparison to other Syrian monasteries. The roots of this phenomenon however are to be found very deep in the Syrian ascetical literature.