Mar Elias Monastery

Mar Elias Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on a hilltop between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, featuring a three-story stone building with a square bell tower. The structure rises above the surrounding landscape and offers views over the hilly region between the two cities.

The monastery was founded in the 6th century on the ruins of a Byzantine church and underwent major reconstruction in 1160 under Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. This rebuilding shaped it into its present form and anchored it firmly in the region's religious landscape.

The monastery holds stone carvings showing biblical scenes, including the prophet Elijah being lifted toward heaven. These religious images reflect the site's deep connection to Christian tradition and the veneration of the holy figure.

The location sits south of Jerusalem along Hebron Road and is reachable about 800 meters southwest of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. The hilltop setting means visitors should be ready for slopes, especially when walking up to the monastery church itself.

A stone bench near the monastery displays biblical verses in four languages: Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, and English. These inscriptions were created by the wife of painter William Holman Hunt as a memorial to his journeys to the region.