byzantine monastery mar saba in the judean desert in the west bank

active year 400 amazing ancient built cliff byzantine christian continuously occupied deep ravine desert setting east jerusalem geology great laura saint sabas greek orthodox historic holy land lavra sabbas impressive construction isolated site israel jeep tour judean kidron valley landscape mar saba middle monastery nature north ruin road oldest palestine religion religious remote location sarit richerson saritrichersoncom solitude steep canyon still use stone buildings touring tourism travel large west bank one inhabited monasteries