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The Monastery of Martha and Mary is located in al-Eizariya, Palestine. It’s administered by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Introduction to the Monastery of Martha and Mary
Al-Eizariya corresponds to the biblical Bethany (Βηθανία), which is where Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46). Al-Eizariya translates to Place of Lazarus.
The Monastery of Martha and Mary is named for the two sisters of Lazarus. Martha and Mary both witnessed Jesus resurrecting their brother.
The monastery sits near the Tomb of Lazarus and the Catholic Church of St. Lazarus, which we weren’t able to visit on this trip.
Church
The church was built in 1965. It was packed with Christian pilgrims and it was difficult to get a good look around. It isn’t as ornately decorated as some of the Orthodox churches we visited in the Holy Land, but contains a good number of icons and frescoes on the walls.
The Monastery of Martha and Mary was built around a rock in the shape of the back of a donkey. It’s believed Jesus sat on the rock before entering Bethany. Martha met him there and said “if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).
Tomb of Fr. Theodosius
Just outside the church is the tomb of Father Theodosius (1913-1991), who once served at the monastery. One story about his life is particularly fascinating.
On July 20, 1951, during the assassination of King Abdullah I of Jordan at the al-Aqsa Mosque, Father Theodosius saved the life of Prince Hussein. The prince, who became king a few years later, was hit with a bullet that ricocheted off a medal that had been pinned to his jacket that same morning. Once realizing Abdullah had been killed, Father Theodosius hid the young prince under his robes and whisked him away to safety. The priest claims to have taught Hussein over several months how to stay safe, forming a lifelong bond in the process.
