Mar Saba Monastery

The Greek Orthodox Mar Saba Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the world. It lies about 9 miles east of Bethlehem.

Sabas was born in Cappadocia in the year 439. When he was 18 he left for Palestine and joined the monks Euthymius and Theoctistus. After journeying into the desert area south of Jerusalem to fast each lent, nourishing himself only with the bread and wine of the Eucharist, he chose in 478 A.D. to take up the life of a hermit in an isolated cave in the Wadi Kidron.

Within five years, 70 others had joined him in neighboring caves among the cliffs. Sabas structured their daily lives around the solitary prayer; seven times a day, and work, such as basket wearing. Sabas established the Great Laura where monks came from their isolated cells once a week to join the community for the Eucharist and to obtain supplies necessary for the coming Week. 

Sabas died in 532 A.D. at the age of 93. He was buried in his monastery and in the twelfth century his body was carried off to Venice by the crusaders. The corpse was returned to Mar Saba Monastery as a result of an agreement between Pope Paul VI and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Athinagorus during the Papal Visit to the Holy Land in 1965. Sabas was given the Aramaic Name of Mar, which means Saint.

Women are not allowed to enter the Monastery, but can view the monastery from the Women's Tower at the right entrance.

The Greek Orthodox Mar Saba Monastery