Evening star., 1902-02-22
MONKS AT MAR SABA
A GRIM FORTRESS MONASTERY
ON THE DEAD SEA.
A Stronghold Of Crusaders-Stands at
the Edge of Deep
Gorge.
From the London Telegraph.

From the London Telegraph.
The most awesome, most repellant dwell
ing place in the world is the grim fortress
monastery of Mar Saba, on the Dead Sea,
where thousands Of monks live in grim and
melancholy austerity.
ihese monks are the most rigorous Of
any in the Greek Church. Their lives are
passed In penance, with no hope Of pleas
ure this side Of the grave, and not one
cheerful incident to brighten their exist
ence. Day after day, amid gloomy sur
roundfngs that would drive most men mel
ancholy mad, they go through the same
unvarying routine, and yet surrounding
them are the remains of such true ro-
mances as only medieval times could pro-
duce.
Mar Saba is at the end of the barren
Wady en- Nor. or Kedron valley, near the
Dead Sea, and Its very location is enough
to send chill down ones spine 1t is the
only oasis in the wilderness of this region,
a S dessroyed .h stronghold of the Crusaders
ana the tomb of nomad chieftain, that of
Shelk Messiah. The wearied traveller is
glad to behold the fortress-like pile of the
ancient monastery way down in the dark
valley, even though he experiences a pre-
sentiment of some hidden danger lurking
In that forbidden place. 1t is the most ro-
mantfcaiiy situated monastery, the oldest
ana undoubtedly the most gruesome in the
a dizzy gorge. at the bottom of which, GOO
1eet below, the torrent .Cedron seethes in
winter. The rock falls away so perpendic-
ularly that huge flying buttresses had to be
moderate space occupied by the monastery
Founded by Euthymius.
In the early part of the fifth century 1t
was inhabited by the sabaites, an order OF
monks Of whom San Sabas was the su-
perior. and who also built the greater por-
ton OF the monastery. San Sabas was
born about 439 In Capadocia, and at eight
years Of age he entered this monastery,
which was originally founded by Euthy-
MUS. AS the reputation of San Sabas for
sanct1ty Increased he was Joined by a great
number OF anchorites, all Of whom could
not find shelter in his monastery, and 1t is
said that 10000 Of these holy men were
living In rock caves In the mountain oppo-
site.
thousands Of caves once inhabited by
these hermits look from the side of the
mountain. many having mosaic floors and
decorations upon the walls. and the story
has every sembance OF truth About 1000
monks inhabited the monastery proper, and
In the seventh century the Persian hordes
Of Chosroes routed them all and plundered
the monastery, and for centuries it's wealth
attracted marauders of all kinds. The last
time IT was pillaged was In 1882 and 1884
by Bedouins. After the very first attack 1t
was fortified, just as it is TODAY Two cas-
tie-iike towers which serve as battlements
are the first evidence the traveller has of
the existence Of the living tomb. One of
the ponderous towers is of very picturesque
lines
Empress Eudoxia.
The fair Empress Eudoxia built 1t in or
der to be close to her ideal of manhood
Euthymius. Euthymius was noted for
his sanctity throughout Palestine, and his
learning and great moral endowments at
tracted the empress. She loved him with
great devotion. but Euthymius, true to his
trust, refused to see her. When her deyo-
tlon to him did not cease he fled to the
Moabite desert beyond the Jordan. The
empress watched daily from the tower for
his return. After much persuasion he was
dragged back to the monastery by his
companion, Theoctestus, and the empress
Wept with joy. She remained there few
years longer. during which time she caught
only casual and infrequent glimpse of the
object OF her love. Finally she left the
place with her court attendants, never to re-
turn. Now the tower is used as a "look-
out and watchman is stationed there
day and night, who scans the mountains
and valleys far and wide to see whether
any danger threatens the monastery