Monastery of Martyrius

After spending some time at the Laura of Euthymius in 457 CE, he lived as a hermit in a nearby cave.

It is believed that he built the monastery along the road from Jericho to Jerusalem bearing his name at this time.

The xenodocheion (pilgrim hostelry) was a source of considerable income to the Sabaite monks of the coenobium.

[5] The monastery was damaged during the Persian invasion in 614 CE and was abandoned after the Arab conquest in the mid-7th century.

A tower of later date (Shunet Murussus) has been built in the south-west corner of the building, and to the south of this are remains of the cobble-pavement (whence the place is named), in a courtyard the eastern wall of which is visible.

A water-channel runs some 10 yards south-west to a small reservoir, about 10 feet square, which was fed from the larger cistern.

The ruin stands on a hill 500 feet above the valleys, and there are traces of a considerable site and other cisterns of good size.

"[7]In 1982–1985, the remains of the Monastery of Martyrius (Khirbet Murassas) were uncovered on a hill overlooking the road from Jericho to Jerusalem.

[3] The monastery was built around a large courtyard and included a church, several chapels, a refectory, a kitchen, a storeroom, a bathhouse, residential quarters and an animal pen.

[3] The main church was paved with colorful mosaics in geometric patterns interspersed with pictures of animals.

[3] The refectory is surrounded by stone benches and divided by two rows of columns which supported a second story.