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Heiko Sieger | all galleries >> Israel >> Desert views > St. George monastery, Wadi Kelt - hermit cave above monastery
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04-JAN-2012

St. George monastery, Wadi Kelt - hermit cave above monastery

Judean desert, West Bank, Israel

Above St. George one can see a hermitage, high up the cliff. Many years ago an 18 year old monk came to the monastery in order to repent his sins: the adolescent drive for the other sex. He made a vowel never to speak again or meet with people. Every day he would let down a bucket on a rope and the monks would put in food so he could pull it up. He wouldn't even show his face – only his hand was seen reaching out for the bucket. About ten years ago, the hermit had ceased to lower the bucket and it is believed that he died in the cave, though no one went up there to see. According to the monks at the monastery, this hermit lived in that cave for 65 years without seeing or speaking to anyone.


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