The Monastery of Chariton. Survey and Excavations

The monastery of Chariton (the Old Laura) was one of the most important in the Judean Desert. The site, known in Arabic as Khirbet Khureitun, is located on the cliff of Nahal Tekoa (Wadi Khureitun), south-southeast of Bethlehem. In 1981-82 the remains of the monastery were surveyed and partly excavated. During the survey the remains of the Hanging Cave, mentioned in the Life of Chariton, were found. The first part of the article describes the remains of the entire monastery: the core with its wall and three towers, the 39 cells scattered over the slopes of Nahal Tekoa, the water supply system and the gardens. The second part is devoted to the description of the Hanging Cave, which became a holy place and a destination for pilgrims in the Byzantine, Early Arab and Crusader periods. The cave comprises a water system on the lower level, a chapel on the intermediate level and the alcove of St. Chariton on the upper level, about 15 m above ground.