One of the large monasteries east of Jerusalem, much of which has been preserved, is the Martyrius Monastery (Khirbet el-Murasas) at Ma'ale Adumim. Built on a mountaintop, it covers an area of approximately ten thousand square meters and has an almost perfectly square plan. According to Cyril of Scythopolis (Beth Shean), this "very famous monastery" was established by Martyrius, a monk from Asia Minor, who reached the Judean Desert in the second half of the fifth century. In later years, Martyrius was appointed Patriarch of Jerusalem.

In the center of the monastery complex was a large courtyard surrounded by various buildings, among them a church and several chapels. Near the church was an additional hall, containing the tomb of Paul, one of the monastery's fathers, who is also mentioned by Cyril of Scythopolis. In the northern part of the complex is a large cave where Martyrius apparently lived before the monastery was built; it was subsequently used for burial. The monastery also had living quarters, large stables, and even a bathhouse. Outside the complex but adjacent to it, was a pilgrims' hospice.

The refectory was a large hall situated in the northwestern corner of the complex, with two rows of columns that supported the roof and a bench built along the walls. Near it was the kitchen, which consisted of two stories and a large cellar. There, tables (two of marble and one of bituminous stone) were discovered as well as hundreds of pottery vessels, among them a large number of drinking bowls and plates.

The monastery's most important buildings were paved with fine mosaics. That of the refectory is particularly beautiful and well preserved. A sophisticated drainage system carried rainwater from the courtyards and roofs to large cisterns.

The Martyrius Monastery, excavated at Ma'ale Adumim, was a large and wealthy monastery. The hospice adjacent to it attests to the fact that it served as a way station on the route from Jerusalem to the Judean Desert, where many pilgrims must have stayed on their way to the baptism site on the Jordan River. The monastery's wealth can also be attributed to the fact that many of the monks living there bore high-ranking positions, such as Martyrius, the founder of the monastery, who was named Patriarch of Jerusalem in 478, and Paul, one of the monastery's fathers, whose tomb was discovered within the monastery complex, and who became the assistant to the Archimandrite of communal monasteries (coenobia) in the Jerusalem region.

The monastery's rich mosaic floors suggest an atmosphere of abundance and comfort, as do other finds discovered within the complex, some of which are quite exceptional. The tables are made of fine marble, and many of the vessels are of metal, which was far more expensive than pottery.

The monastery was apparently abandoned during the Persian conquest (614) and was never occupied again.

Stone tombstone of the head of the monastery of Martyrius
Greek inscription: "This is the Tomb of Paul, priest and archimandrite."
Martyrius Monastery, Ma'ale Adumin, late 5th or early 6th century
Staff Archaeological Officer in the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria, K29224
Photo: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / by Avraham Hay

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