Israel and You Spaces and Places in Israel 
Khan al-Ahmar – Monastery of St. Euthymius
The Eastern Orthodox Monastery of St. Euthymius ((Khan el-Ahmar) ) is a 5th C AD monastery in Mishor Adummim, on the road from Jerusalem to the Jordan valley, was founded by the hermit Euthymius “the Great” in 428AD as a Laura (or Lavra – a monastery of hermits, with small cells). The Laura had a total of 12 cells. In 482, after the death of the founder, it changed to a larger, communal form (Coenobium – a walled monastery). The floor of the church is both stone mosaics and “opus sectile”, which is based on rough cuttings of various colored lime stones. This unique floor is dated to the Crusader period.
Euthymius
Armenian monk Euthymius was one of the founders of Judean Desert Christian monasticism in the Byzantine period. After Euthymius died, his bones were stored in a crypt on the site. Many of St. Euthymius the Great’s disciples founded monasteries of their own and filled senior posts in the Land of Israel Church in the Byzantine period. The most famous of these disciples were Martyrius, who established the monastery that bears his name located in the center of the present-day city of Ma’ale Adummim, and the monk Elias, who founded a monastery in Jericho.
This is the place traditionally associated with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke10:30-37).
In Euthymius monastery there were four huge reservoirs which supplied the water for the monks, the pilgrims and the gardens. The largest on these cisterns is located east of the monastery walls. The reservoir is rectangular, 12m x 18m, and is more than 12m deep. Its total capacity is over 3000 m3.
The site was abandoned in the 12th century. The monastery was later converted into a travellers’ inn, Khan al-Ahmar, a caravanserai for pilgrims on the route between Jerusalem and Mecca via Nabi Musa.
Rami Levi’s Monastery – Monastery of St. Euthymius
You should have no trouble finding St. Euthymius Monastery. It is right across the street from the Rami Levi Supermarket.
Directions: Euthymius Monastery is located in the industrial area of Ma’aleh Adummim. Visitors coming from road 1 turn at the traffic lights of the industrial area and drive according to the signs to Euthymius Monastery.
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