Saint Hilarion Monastery

Saint Hilarion Monastery, at the archaeological site of Tell Umm el-'Amr, is an ancient Christian monastery close to Deir al-Balah[1] in the Gaza Strip.

History and archaeology

The remains of Saint Hilarion Monastery span more than four centuries, from the Late Roman to the Umayyad period, and are characterized by five successive churches, bath and sanctuary complexes, geometric mosaics, and an expansive crypt.[2] The site's oldest building, dating to the fourth century, is named for Hilarion, a native of the Gaza region and the father of Palestinian monasticism. The site was abandoned after a seventh-century earthquake and rediscovered by local archaeologists in 1999.[3]

Current state

According to the Ministry of Tourism in Gaza, Saint Hilarion Monastery is in dire need of preservation.[4] Current preservation efforts are plagued by war and conflict in the region, as well as a shortage of materials and equipment needed for excavation. The site was included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch and is classified as "Rescue Needed" by Global Heritage Network.[5]

References
  1. "New archaeological discovery in St. Hilarion Monastery". Al-Monitor. 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  2. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Tell Umm Amer". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  3. "Tell Umm El-'Amr (Saint Hilarion Monastery) | World Monuments Fund". Wmf.org. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  4. "Middle East Monitor – Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa". Middleeastmonitor.org.uk. 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  5. "GHN Sites". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.

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