A Gem in the Kidron Valley

On Tuesday we visited Mar Saba, a Greek Orthodox Monastery in the Kidron Valley just east of Bethlehem. The monastery was build around 1500 years ago and is probably one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Mar Saba Monastery was founded by Mar (Saint) Saba and other monks who were seeking a more contemplative and prayerful life. The monastery is located on the edge of a cliff with a little spring flowing at the bottom of the mount and it has been continuously in use since it was founded in the fifth century. The structure has survived natural disasters, pillaging by armies and the rule of numerous empires and kingdoms. Mar Saba Monastery was also the home of St. John of Damascus (676AD -749AD), a key religious figure during the Iconoclastic controversy.

The monks were praying when we arrived and did not open at our ringing of the bell. They later came and invited us to visit their monastery. The monastery was a maze of cells, stairs, hallways and churches literally wrapped around its central courtyard. The first place we visited was a small domed shrine in the middle of the courtyard holding the tomb where Mar Saba was originally buried. We then visited the main church of the monastery, the Church of the Annunciation of Virgin Mary, where the relic of the body of Mar Saba has been kept since being returned from Venice in 1965 by Pope Paul VI (the Crusaders had taken it there a few centuries earlier). Finally, we were allowed to visit the ossuary of St. Nicolas, which holds the skulls of monks martyred during the Persian invasion in the seventh century. All three churches were covered with very impressive and breathtaking icons that immediately inspired us to pray.  

The Church of the Annunciation of Virgin Mary (the main church) was the most beautiful church in the monastery. The church was dark, lit by the natural light that filtered in from above. The floor was shining clean and on the right side, behind a glass casket, were the bones of Mar Saba, dressed with priestly garments and surrounded by dozens of candles. The entire setting of this majestic church projected a sense of holiness that is really hard to describe. All I can say is that it was a very unique and grace-filled place.