St. George's Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Wadi Qelt, Palestine

The Monastery of Saint George of Choziba is built into the tan rock cliff of Wadi Qelt. Its light tan masonry walls rise on several levels, with two dark arched balconies with metal railings on the main facade and a square bell tower with two arched openings at its top. Small rectangular windows dot the walls, and a long battlemented wall runs along the base.

Monks began settling here in the 5th century in caves, seeking isolation in the desert. The monastery expanded in the 6th century, was later destroyed by Persians, and rebuilt in the 12th century.

The monastery belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and is served by Greek Orthodox monks; in 2011 ten monks lived here, nine from Greece and one from Serbia. It keeps the relics of Saint George of Choziba, Saint John of Choziba and Saint John the Romanian (1913–1960). Its abbot is also considered abbot of Deir Hajla near Jericho, and iron crosses set on the surrounding peaks by the monks in 1967 mark the skyline.

Access is through a pedestrian bridge crossing the wadi, and the path to the entrance involves steep steps. Summer heat can be intense, so water and comfortable shoes are important.

The upper storey of the monastery is an ancient cave, around which three churches were built. Monks hold that this is the cave where Elijah stayed at the brook Cherith and was fed bread and water by ravens, not a stop on the road to Sinai. Christians also believe an angel announced to Joachim here that Anne would bear Mary.