At an altitude of 350 meters, on a barren mountain, stands the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Temptations, also known as the Mount of Quarantine, a unique architectural masterpiece that rises above the city of Jericho.
Fr ISSA THALJIYEH
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
"The name is derived from "forty" in Arabic Al-Qarantal to indicate Jesus' days of fasting in the desert. The origin of the Arabic word is Neo-Latin."
The monastery dates back to the 4th century, during the reign of Queen Helena, Constantine's mother, and stands on the ancient cave where, according to tradition, Jesus stayed.
In the church you can admire icons representing Jesus, the Virgin Mary and numerous saints. A stone indicates the traditional site of Jesus' first temptation.
Above the church, a Greek Orthodox monastery was built in 1895, consisting of thirty rooms, some of which were carved into the rock. Its balconies seem to be suspended in the air.
In the past, access to the monastery was on foot up the rocky slope, but in 1998 the construction of a cable car has facilitated access, which doubled the number of pilgrims. There they can admire the ancient city of Jericho and visit a series of caves where the hermits used to live.
Fr ISSA THALJIYEH
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
"There is some active tourist flow to the Mount of Temptation, especially for Orthodox believers - from Russia, Greece, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania and other areas. They come mainly to pray and ask for blessings."
Once arrived at the monastery, the visitor can contemplate the silence, in an atmosphere of austerity and adoration. Here, according to tradition, Jesus repelled the temptations of the devil, saying, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, The Lord thy God shalt thou adore: to him alone shalt thou worship, Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test." (cf. Lk 4:4;8;12)
Fr ISSA THALJIYEH
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
"My message is always to resist the devil's temptation and sin. In every day of our lives there are problems, persecutions and difficulties but just as Jesus Christ fasted forty days on the mountain, we too must know how to resist!
Salvation is in the kingdom of heaven, but the devil is always trying to trap us, tempt us and keep us from looking forward and achieving the goal we desire."
The Monastery of Temptation is a spiritual beacon in the desert against the temptations of the devil!
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