The Ecce Homo Arch in the Via Dolorosa Jerusalem, photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
The Garden of Gethsemane photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
The Valley of Jehoshaphat and the Mount of Olives photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
This beautiful book is printed on India paper in addition
of 100 and is exquisitely illustrated with 24 photogravures from
photographs by Cecil V. Shadbolt printed by the partnership of Annan
& Swan, a photoengraving firm set up by James Craig Annan and Donald
Swan in London in 1885. https://photogravure.com/collection/?artist=All&portfolio=Walks%20in%20Palestine&keywords=
Bethlehem photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
The Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
Jaffa, the Ancient Joppa photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
The Mount of Temptation near Jericho photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
The Jordan photographed c 1885 by Cecil Shadbolt, published in his book "Walks in Palestine"
The monastery is the site of the famous story of St.Gerasimos and the Lion. It has been much painted, but perhaps most delightfully by Carpaccio in the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni in Venice
It is one of the oldest Monasteries of Palestine, built in 455 by St Gerasimos himself. St Gerasimos came from the town Myra of Lycia. His presence was fundamental in the monasticism of Palestine, combining the anchorite with the coenobitic monasticism.
Illegal Israeli settlers’ seize the land of the ancient monastery of St Gerasimos in the West Bank near Jericho- an ancient early Christian sanctuary that I visited during the writing of From the Holy Mountain
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey Among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple
The monastery, founded in the 5th century by Saint Gerasimos and located
north of the Dead Sea, includes sections dating back to the 9th and
12th centuries.
Greek authorities have expressed deep concern over reports of
expanded land encroachments by Israeli settlers on property belonging to
the Greek Orthodox Church in the West Bank, particularly around the
historic Monastery of Saint Gerasimos of the Jordan near Jericho.
A high-level meeting was held in Athens to assess the situation,
which, according to exclusive reports, involves the extension of illegal
settlement activity on land under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem
Patriarchate. The monastery, founded in the 5th century by Saint
Gerasimos and located north of the Dead Sea, includes sections dating
back to the 9th and 12th centuries.
While Athens cannot intervene broadly in Israeli settlement policy,
diplomatic channels between Greece and Israel are activated when church
property is affected. These issues are managed directly by the Greek
Foreign Ministry due to their sensitive religious and historical
significance.
Greek-Israeli tensions over Orthodox Church properties have surfaced
multiple times in recent years. The pressure on the Jericho region has
intensified in the past two years, particularly following the October 7,
2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. At least five new
settler outposts have reportedly been established near Jericho, often
preceding further land seizures.... READ MORE https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1277381/athens-upset-by-west-bank-seizure-reports/
One of the oldest Monasteries of Palestine is the Holy Monastery of
Saint Gerasimos of the Jordan, which was built in 455 by Saint Gerasimos
himself. Saint Gerasimos came from the town Myra of Lycia. His presence
was fundamental in the monasticism of Palestine, combining the
anchorite with the coenobitic monasticism. The monastery is built on the
south-east valley of Jericho. The exact place of Christ’s baptism, as
well as the Dead Sea is nearby, the place where the ancient cities Sodom
and Gomorra used to be.
The monastery stands majestically 400 metres above the surface of the
Mediterranean Sea. On its north side there is a three-aisled church
dedicated to Saint Gerasimos, Saint Euthymios, Saint Zosimas and Saint
Mary of Egypt. All interior decoration is dated back to the 12th
century. On the ground floor under the church there is another smaller
one, dedicated to the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt when persecuted by
King Herod. According to the tradition, the Theotokos with Christ as
baby and Saint Joseph were accommodated for a short while in that place
and the following incident happened. That was also the hiding place of a
chief bandit. He threatened the other bandits not to harm that family
or else they would deal with him. In the evening Theotokos bathed
Christ. The chief bandit’s wife took the used water and bathed her ill
son with it. The child was instantly healed. It is said that that boy
was the bandit who was crucified on Christ’s right hand side and was
granted life in Heaven. That area is also called the area of the grouse
(Deir Jajla). It received that name after the Theotokos. When people saw
her passing by they said she walked like a grouse. Someone
characteristically said “this woman is so beautiful! If there is a
Mother of God it must be her”.
