Overview

Bibliography

Deir Qeruh is a deserted village that was founded in the fourth century CE, was occupied throughout the Byzantine period, abandoned during the seventh century, then reoccupied during the Mameluke and modern periods. It is located on a basalt plateau that borders the Nahal Daliyyot on the west and the south. Although the village has not been excavated and its empty ruins harken back to better days, a Byzantine church and monastery on the northern side of the site has been excavated and provides a glimpse into the ancient life of the village.

The church and monastery were founded in the sixth century. The church was dedicated to Saint George. A Greek inscription on the lintel of the chapel entrance reads: "The God of Saint George, save and have mercy on those who believe in you. Amen." After the village was abandoned in the seventh century, the church and monastery were used for other purposes by the village's later inhabitants.

The two western rooms of the monastery have not been excavated, but the remainder of the complex, including the church, were excavated in 1982 by Zvi Uri Ma'az for the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums. Today, the church and the rest of the village are part of the Gamla nature reserve.