Christian tradition has identified Mount Tabor in Galilee as the site of the miraculous Transfiguration of Jesus.
Archaeological research also indicates the existence of one church, with the high altar dedicated to the Transfiguration, and two chapels to the prophets Moses and Elias.
[2] The late 12th-century historian William of Tyre writes that Tancred established churches at the towns of Nazareth and Tiberias, and on Mount Tabor, and made magnanimous grants to them.
[3] Modern scholars, such as Hamilton and Denys Pringle say that the original Greek Orthodox monastery was seized by Roman Catholic monks with Tancred's support, and the Orthodox monks built a new monastery, dedicated to Saint Elias.
In 1109, the first abbot, Gerald received archiepiscopal authority over Galilee from Pope Paschal II who also exempted the abbey from all other prelates' jurisdiction.