St. George Monastery

St. George Monastery is situated in the West Bank in the charmingly barren Wadi Qelt valley, halfway between Jerusalem and Amman. The structure, which was constructed into the side of a cliff and dates back to the 420s, can only be reached by going down a difficult route and crossing a pedestrian bridge across the canyon. The monastery, which is still inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks, has several significant artifacts as well as historic chapels and churches. With the dry, rocky landscape of Wadi Qelt all surrounding it, St. George Monastery, a highly famous pilgrimage site, provides for a stunning sight.

Legend has it that when they approached, the shape of a rider vanished. On the mountain's summit, a stone with the marks of human and horse hoof was discovered. There was also a Saint George icon discovered. The image was transferred to the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Kerch, one of the oldest churches, but it magically reappeared on top of the mountain. The church's priest provided the solution to the issue. On April 23, the day of Saint George's commemoration, the icon was to be transported in a procession to the location of the appearance each year until the monastery was built on the spot as promised.

Location: Wadi Qelt, West Bank Jerusalem