Israeli Archaeologists Uncover 1,500-Year-Old Monastery with Bible Verse from Deuteronomy

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a 1,500-year-old monastery that includes a winepress and a colorful mosaic floor featuring a well-known verse from Deuteronomy. Archaeologists say the monastery dates to the fifth century A.D. and is the most significant site discovered in the region from the Roman and Byzantine periods. It was uncovered north of Kiryat Gat, a city southwest of Jerusalem.  

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) excavation revealed the remains of at least 10 buildings, including the winepress, a monastery and a large warehouse building.

The mosaic floor includes a verse written in Greek from Deuteronomy 28:6: “Blessed are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out.”

The monastery is “part of an ancient site” that was founded in the first century A.D. and “continued for approximately 600 years,” IAA said in a news release. 

“The early settlement is sited on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain,” said Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis, excavation managers on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “It apparently served the area’s smaller settlements as well as travelers passing by. This is the largest and most significant Roman and Byzantine period site uncovered in this area. The findings indicate a succession of settlements starting from the early Roman period (first century A.D.) and through until the end of the Byzantine period (end of the sixth century A.D.).”

The monastery’s mosaic floor includes lions, doves, crosses, flowers, an amphora (a ceramic maritime shipping jug), and geometric patterns. The Bible verse is in the center. 

Archaeologists uncovered a number of items in the monastery, including “imported ware, coins, marble elements, metal and glass vessels, all attesting to the rich and significant community living here,” IAA said.

“In addition to the monastery, a very sophisticated winepress was also uncovered, which was built and repaired several times over the years,” IAA said. “The mosaic flooring of the fermentation rooms and the collecting vat integrated blue and white stones. In the plastered surfaces of the collecting vats, you can see remnants of red paint. The northern collecting vat floor is built of slabs, some of which can best be seen in Greek letters, which served as masonry marks for the winepress builders. All of these features indicate that building and developing this winery involved significant financial resources, time, and a range of professional work and effort.”

Photo Credit: ©Israel Antiquities Authority

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Originally published January 09, 2025.