Hi,
I have been viewing Monastery of St. John of the Desert (near Moshav Even Sapir) many times while driving down from the Sataf the Ein Karem, or while exploring the area for springs in Amud Anan.
Today we packed the kids, left Atzva to gather some forces and went to see what is this place. We found out a small, quiet and tranquil monastery where you can sit down by a pond with fish and enjoy a cup of coffee (if you bring one with you). But you cannot take a deep in the spring or in the pond.
The place is traditionally held to be where St. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. It is a Franciscan Catholic monastery, and the current building was designed in 1922. You can read more in the monastery website here.
Take Care
Gad
The small parking lot and the entrance to the monastery. The place is not designed to host many people in the first place.
Coat of Arms – Franciscan Custdy of the Holy Land, Catholic Church, Monastery of St. John of the Desert
Chronology of the Christian Holy place – Monastery of St. John of the Desert
View over from the Sataf spring slopes. If you have more time, you can spend some time hiking over there and watching this place.
The view inside
Down we go. slow and steady
Nice Garden on the side of the main route
The main building
About S. John the Baptist near the entrance to the building
The door is closed, but not much to see inside
The spring right next to the entrance to the main building
The small pond
The monastery above the pond
A small chapel in a grotto, where John is believed to live
The small cemetery of the monastery
Dub climbs up the stairs back