Mar Elias Monastery (Hebrew: מנזר מאר אליאס) is a 12th century Greek-Orthodox monastery, on the side of the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Built over the ruins of a Byzantine church, it serviced the pilgrimage route to Bethlehem. The monastery is named after prophet Elijah (St. Elias), who according to tradition stopped here on his way to the south while fleeing from the anger of queen Jezebel, after slaying the Baal prophets on the Carmel. The site was founded in the Byzantine period (6th century AD) and was ruined after the Persian conquest (614 AD). It was rebuilt later. The monastery was severely damaged by an earthquake (1160), after a previous quake (1033/4) already shattered the structure. Immediately after the quake, in 1160, the monastery was built again by Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Comnenus) during the Crusaders period. (Text taken From BibleWalks.com)
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