Looking like something out of an Indiana Jones film, St George's monastery is a magnificent edifice perched halfway up the cliff in Wadi Qelt. The monastery is named after St George of Koziba and was first built in the late fifth century. Numerous cave-dwelling hermits lived here and would attend Divine Liturgy on Saturday and Sunday.
The monastery was more or less abandoned after the Persians swept through the valley and massacred the 14 monks. The Crusaders made some attempts at restoration in 1179; significant reconstruction was completed by the Greek Orthodox Church in 1901. The traditions attached to the monastery include a visit by St Elijah en route to Sinai, and St Joachim, whose wife Anne was infertile, weeping here when an angel announced to him the news of the Virgin Mary's conception. The monastery makes a great stopping point on a hike through Wadi Qelt, on the way to Jericho.
