St. Efthimios Monasteryدير مار افطيم Ιερά Μονή Αγίου Ευθυμίου

A short walk from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, is the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Euthymios, located next to the Monastery of Our Lady of Sednaya. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Euthymiosthe Great, who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries and was a leading figure in the history of desert monasticism who was believed to have been gifted by God with the abilities of clairvoyance and miracle-working. Saint Euthymios was born in 377CE in the town of Melitine in Armenia (present day Turkey) to Paul and Dionysius, a pious couple from a noble family. According to tradition, the couple was unable to have children and prayed to God to grant them a child. In a vision, they heard the voice of an angel telling them to be cheerful because God would grant them a son who would bring joy to the church. It was for this reason, the child they bore was given the name Euthymios meaning “good cheer.” Saint Euthymios began his monastic life in his hometown, and came to the Holy Land as a pilgrim, moving first to the lavra directed by the monk Chariton in Wadi Qelt, then with fellow hermit Saint Theokistos. During this time, he became well known as a miracle worker and many sought him out for his healing abilities. Other monks were also drawn to him to learn from his ascetic monastic lifestyle. In his quest for solitude, Saint Euthymios moved around the desert establishing new lavras, monasteries in which monks lived in groups but independently in separate caves, and coenobiums, monasteries in which monks lived communally, as he traveled. In 428CE, Saint Euthymios established a monastery of hermits, known as the Monastery of Euthymios. Established as a lavra during his life, the monastery became a coenobium after his death in 475CE at the age of 97. The Holy Monastery of Saint Euthymios in the Old City is not regularly open to visitors. The exception is on the feast day of Saint Euthymios, which is celebrated in the monastery each year on January 20th. In order to arrange a visit to the monastery, contact the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.