Located 5 km south of Bet Shemesh, is the Monastery of Beit Jimal (Bet Gamal). The monastery was built by Salesian monks in 1881 as an agricultural school. The Christian tradition says that Rabban Gamliel I, the teacher of St: Paul (Acts 5:34); St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 6-8); Nicodemus, who helped in the burial of Jesus (John 19: 39-42); were all buried here. In fact, in 1873, what were said to be their remains were discovered and removed for re-interment on Mt. Zion.
The modern Salesian church was built over the remains of a 5th century Byzantine Church, considered as the Tomb of St: Stephen. It was destroyed by Persians in 614 AD. A Byzantine church and a large oil-press have also been found 2 km from the monastery. Outside the church displayed are mosaics from the earlier 5th-6th century Byzantine Church. Nearby the monastery lives 'Sisters of Bethlehem of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno'. The nuns also have a Church and they sell hand painted pottery in a small store on the premises. They have taken a vow of silence and only those who work in the store are permitted to talk.
Apart from its association with Christianity, Beit Jimal has the honour of being Israel's first meteorological station. The meteorological station is still operated by the monks. Beit Jimal is also a great picnic spot and a famous concert venue. The monastery also sells delicious homemade wine at reasonable rates.
The modern Salesian church was built over the remains of a 5th century Byzantine Church, considered as the Tomb of St: Stephen. It was destroyed by Persians in 614 AD. A Byzantine church and a large oil-press have also been found 2 km from the monastery. Outside the church displayed are mosaics from the earlier 5th-6th century Byzantine Church. Nearby the monastery lives 'Sisters of Bethlehem of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno'. The nuns also have a Church and they sell hand painted pottery in a small store on the premises. They have taken a vow of silence and only those who work in the store are permitted to talk.
Apart from its association with Christianity, Beit Jimal has the honour of being Israel's first meteorological station. The meteorological station is still operated by the monks. Beit Jimal is also a great picnic spot and a famous concert venue. The monastery also sells delicious homemade wine at reasonable rates.
I don't think the Salesians were monks.
ReplyDeleteSalesian Vocation has two categories; 1)Salesian Clerics and 2)Lay Salesians or Salesian Brothers. The later are not monks but take care of educating and training the young. May be this is what you are referring. But in the first category, Salesians so have monks.You can also see their official site.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sdb.org/sdbweb/index.asp?Lingua=2&MySez=9&MySotSez=8&FileCentro=_2_9_8_.htm