Clinging to the hillside above Jericho is the Orthodox Monastery of Saint George
Christian religious communities have a long and unbroken presence in the Middle East.
The present-day situation of Christians in the region is still difficult. From persecution and genocide at the beginning of the 20 century, to today's political pressure and ethnic cleansing, they struggle to survive.
In modern-day Israel they are invisiblised by the label Arab which is used to designate non-Jews.
A wonderful read on the subect is "From the Holy Mountain: a journey among the Christians of the Middle East.", by William Dalrymple
The monastery overlooks Jericho.
The modern cable car, accessing a point half-way up the mountainside, is the lowest in the world.
Close to the Dead Sea, we are probably about 300m below sea level.
Our group ascending.
The car ride up the hillside was for those with nerves of steel.
Despite the hot February sun, I, personally, was happy to walk the last bit.
I wouldn't have been enthusiastic about climbing up from Jericho by ancient means of locomotion.
Jesus would have sojourned in this cave.
The monk's cells would originally have been caves in the mountainside.
Biblical texts say that the Devil threatened to throw Christ from a high mountain.....this place might fit the bill.
The view over the fertile Jordan Valley is breathtaking.