MONASTERY
Mar Saba Monastery
Kidron Valley · Greek Orthodox
- Locality
- Kidron Valley
- Tradition
- Greek Orthodox
- Type of place
- MONASTERY
- Coordinates
- 31.70492° N, 35.33133° E
- Identity
- Matched to a public listing
A brief history
The Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas overlooks the Kidron Valley in the Bethlehem Governorate, roughly halfway between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea. Greek Orthodox and dating to 483, it is among the oldest almost continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, and it keeps many of its ancient customs. Its monks, and those of houses founded from it, are called Sabaites.
Saints & traditions
Women may not enter the main compound. The one building open to them is the Women's Tower, beside the entrance — a rule the monastery has kept for centuries.