Christians and Christianity Vol. IV. Churches and Monasteries in Judea
This volume summarizes most of the church and monastery excavations conducted in Judea during the past three decades. Most were located in 4th century CE military structures that served as local police outposts and centers for maintaining internal security against growing numbers of Saracens. In the 6th century these structures were given to the monks for establishing monasteries. The Saracen threat did not cease, and they continued harassing and attacking the monastic population, as is attested by the defenses found in most of the monasteries.