Article,
A Church and Water Reservoir Built by Empress Eudocia
Liber Annuus, (1990)
Abstract
The site of Qasr 'Ali lies atop a small hill about 6 km east of Jerusalem; it is identified with the church and water reservoir built by Empress Eudocia in 459, a year before her death. According to the hagiographer Cyril of Scythopolis, the church was dedicated to St. Peter. Cyril mentions only the church and the reservoir; further archaeological research revealed the existence of living quarters and a tower beside the church. It is assumed that the church and water reservoir were built at the same time as the tower and living quarters, together creating a small monastic complex. The monks who lived in the monastery provided services to the thousands of pilgrims who traveled from Jerusalem to the baptismal sites on the Jordan River and back to the Holy City during the Byzantine period. This kind of monastery which aimed to serve the needs of pilgrims manifests the combination of Christian piety and practical generosity that characterized Eudocia's activities in the Holy Land.
