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29-645: Saint Hilarion Monastery , at the archaeological site of Tell Umm el-'Amr , is an ancient Christian monastery close to Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip , Palestine . The monastery was founded in ca. 340 by Hilarion , a native of the Gaza region and one possible father of Palestinian monasticism (see also Chariton the Confessor ). Hilarion had converted to Christianity in Alexandria and then, inspired by St Anthony , become

58-450: A hermit first in Egypt and then in his home region. He then founded a hermitage close to his home village of Thabatha and by the time Hilarion was sixty-three, the monastery was large and attracted many visitors. Though seemingly back then located in the desert, it was in reality at the crossroads between Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia and is believed to be a center of missionary work in

87-611: A certain Alaphion, which led to the conversion of the prominent family of the historian Sozomen. As there were no monasteries in Palestine or Syria at the time, people begun to flock to Hilarion for spiritual training . Sozomen, possibly due to his local sources, singles out Epiphanius and Hesyach as the two most outstanding in the circle around Hilarion. Epiphanius of Eleutheropolis became his disciple after returning from Egypt and would later go to Cyprus where he introduced monasticism and

116-507: A scroll which reads: "The tools of a monk are steadfastness, humility, and love according to God." Upon Hilarion's death, Epiphanius announced his death in a laudatory letter which served as primary source for both Jerome and Sozomenus who wrote subsequent hagiographies about Hilarion. Jerome wrote his Life of Hilarion in Latin around 390 in the monastery of Paula in Bethlehem. Jerome's work

145-530: Is also mentioned twice in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers . Johann Gottfried Herder wrote the poem "The Paradise in the desert" about the teacher-disciple relation between Anthony and Hilarion in 1797. This motive was also taken up by Gustave Flaubert in his The Temptation of Saint Anthony and changed in such as Hilarion attempts to tempt Anthony away from his faith by creating doubt. Hermann Hesse adapted

174-657: The Egyptian Desert , Hilarion is considered by his biographer Jerome to be the founder of Palestinian monasticism (see also Chariton the Confessor ) and venerated as a saint exemplifying monastic virtues by the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church. Hilarion was born around 291 to pagan parents in Tabatha, a village five miles north of Gaza. Hilarion was at least bilingual, speaking both Greek as well as Aramaic which

203-557: The 19th century, the prayer hall of the Monastery of Hilarion is currently occupied by the Mosque of al-Khidr. French explorer Victor Guérin noted that two marble columns in the mosque were possibly parts of the Byzantine-era monastery. In 2015, it was the only archaeological site accessible to the public in Gaza, making it an especially treasured and important cultural heritage. According to

232-585: The Gaza region. 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 . As the hermitage was likely consisting of small hermits' cells according to the tradition of St. Anthony build out of mud bricks and perishable material, resulting in that their remains have not been preserved. The site

261-528: The Ministry of Tourism in Gaza, the Saint Hilarion Monastery in 2016 was in dire need of preservation. 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 classified as "Rescue Needed" by Global Heritage Network . In December 2023, UNESCO granted

290-478: The Tell Umm el-'Amr site was active from the 4th to the 8th century and contains Christian artifacts. Currently, the site consists of the monastery of Saint Hilarion ; as well as religious buildings (e.g. church, cloister) and all the outbuildings necessary for the life of the monks (e.g. miscellaneous room, dormitory). Additionally, the archaeologists found a hotel complex and baths probably used by visiting pilgrims at

319-585: The crowds that visited him. While he was there, the pagan Julian became emperor of the East in the winter of 361/362 and the city authority of Gaza attempted to arrest Hilarion who then had to flee. Jerome's and Sozomen's account differs slightly as Jerome writes that Hilarion escaped arrest in Egypt and lived there until Julian's death before travelling to Sicily, Hilarion went according to Sozomen directly to Sicily. From there, he went soon to Epidauros in Dalmatia where he

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348-465: The impact of the ongoing conflict on cultural heritage, particularly in the Gaza Strip" and stating "The organization urges all involved parties to strictly adhere to international law, emphasizing that cultural property should not be targeted or used for military purposes, as it is considered civilian infrastructure." Tell Umm el-%27Amr Tell Umm el-ʿAmr is located in the dune landscapes south of

377-405: The many visitors who came to Anthony for healing or exorcism were too much to bear and he decided to set off in the wilderness of Palestine to live alone as a hermit. Hilaron returned to Gaza where he found his parents dead and subsequently gave away his goods to his brothers and the poor. Then, he established himself as a hermit in the desert inland from the coast road seven miles from Maiuma ,

406-501: The monastery "provisional enhanced protection". In January 2024, Al Jazeera reported that the monastery is one of 195 cultural heritage sites that have been damaged or destroyed since Israel–Hamas war began. In July 2024, the monastery was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO . The listing was fast-tracked using emergency procedures, with UNESCO expressing "deep concern about

435-601: The mouth of the Wadi Ghazzeh in the area of the Al Nusairat refugee camp, about 5.28 miles south of Gaza City. The distance to the Mediterranean coast is 1000–2000 feet. In the east and southeast of the Tell Umm el-'Amr site, there are palm groves that form a border with the neighboring town of Deir al-Balah . The archaeological site covers an area of approximately 46000 square feet. Uncovered by local archaeologists in 1999,

464-480: The port of Gaza. Though he went on one occasion to Jerusalem to venerate the holy sites, he chose not to live in the Judaean Desert as he did not wish to appear to confine God within prescribed limits, believing he could be close to God anywhere. Around 308, he built a hut where he lived in solitude for 22 years and which survived into the time of Jerome. Hilarion wove baskets as he had learned in Egypt where this

493-417: The site. The Saint Hilarion Monastery is dedicated to Hilarion of Gaza and is nominated as a UNESCO world heritage site. In 2013, fundraising was launched in order to be able to carry out excavations on the site and put in place protection measures. The British Council's Cultural Protection Fund funded a conservation programme at Tell Umm el-'Amr. In 2024, a request for UNESCO world heritage status

522-445: Was a common monastic occupation. Here he also struggled against fleshly desires and Jerome said that the devil tempted Hilarion by igniting the "flames of lust" in the young man. Hilarion fought this sexual desire by mortifying his body with hunger, thirst and strenuous labour. After these 22 years, Hilarion was approached by a brave woman who sought a cure for her sterility. First, he resisted, but soon he prayed for her upon which she

551-451: Was abandoned after a seventh-century earthquake and rediscovered by local archaeologists in 1999. The fourteenth century pilgrim Antony of Cremona mentioned in his travel report that there was a church called St. Hilarion in Tabatha, but it is uncertain whether he was referring to a building that still existed or if he was retelling information derived from an earlier source. According to local tradition and observations from Western travelers in

580-404: Was common around Gaza. His pagan parents sent him in his youth to study with a grammarian in Alexandria , where he gave, according to Jerome, a remarkable proof of his ability and character and became an accomplished speaker. While in Alexandria, he heard of the hermit Anthony and set off to study with him. After two months of learning the ascetic life from Anthony, Hilarion started to feel that

609-432: Was elected bishop of Salamis around 367/368. With many more people seeking his guidance, he established a monastery during the reign of emperor Constantius (337–361) which, by the time he was sixty-three, consisted of a large community with many visitors. Hilarion remained in Gaza until three years after the death of Anthony (around 356), upon which he went to the place where Anthony had died in Egypt in order to escape

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638-455: Was healed. From then on, Hilarion spent his life surrounded by disciples and people in need of healing and exorcism . Jerome reports several episodes in which Hilarion heals people, drives out demons, foresees the future, performs miracles and speaks divinely inspired words of wisdom. In one instance, Hilarion was able to heal the three children of Helpidius , who would later become praetorian prefect In Bethelea , Hilarion healed miraculously

667-440: Was not so much to write a historical exact account but rather a hagiographic composition focusing on the life and deeds of Hilarion. Though Jerome's historical accuracy has been occasionally questioned, there can be no doubt that Hilarion was a historical figure and that Gaza became during his time a center of monasticism. Hilarion's life is mentioned in the third, fifth and sixth book of Sozomen's Ecclesiastical history , which

696-402: Was ousted by those of Ursula and Dunstan 's ordination. Charlemagne is said to have brought the relics of Hilarion to Moissac Abbey from where they where transferred to the church of Duravel in 1065. Hilarion is the patron saint of Caulonia under the name Sant'Ilario. In iconography, is depicted as an old man with a brown, rush-like beard divided into three points and he holds sometimes

725-658: Was perfectly preserved and smelled sweetly , and interred it in his own monastery at Maiuma. Sozomen reports that after Hilarion's body was interred at his monastery , the local population started to celebrate an annual festival at the place. His relics continued to be venerated and are also mentioned by the anonymous Piacenza Pilgrim around the year 570. Hilarion was venerated from early time in both East and West as an example of monastic holiness. Bede included him in his martyrology and he appeared frequently in Pre-Conquest English monastic calendars before his feast

754-525: Was said to have stilled the sea during the tsunami of 21 July 365 by drawing three crosses in the sand. Immediately after that, he went to Cyprus. Hilarion was welcomed in Cyprus by his old disciple Epiphanius who encouraged him to stay. He initially settled near Paphos but later retired to a more remote place twelve miles away. Here, Hilarion died at the age of eighty and was buried. Ten months after Hilarion's death, his disciple Hesyach stole his body, which

783-514: Was submitted. Following their addition in July 2024, both Tell Umm el-'Amr and Saint Hilarion Monastery were included on the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO. Hilarion Hilarion the Great (291–371) was an anchorite who spent most of his life in the desert according to the example of Anthony the Great (c. 251–356). While Anthony is considered to have established Christian monasticism in

812-513: Was translated into Greek by contemporary writer Sophronius upon whose translation Jerome looked favourably. Jerome was inspired by reading the Life of Anthony which also served as a literary model with regard to its content and ecclesiastic function of the text. There are two major themes Jerome focuses on, one being Hilarion's search for a life of solitary prayer and contemplation and the other being Hilarion's role as successor to Anthony. Jerome's goal

841-421: Was written in the 440s. Whereas in the third book no new information to Jerome's Life of Hilarion is added and is in parts less detailed, Sozomen adds new information in the fifth book and sixth books, possibly thanks to his local sources and own family history. Sozomen's own origin and literary aims as a historian therefore result in a different historical sketch of Hilarion's life than that of Jerome. Hilarion

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