Martyrios' monastery in the Judean desert
  The monastery of Martyrios at Maale Adummim is a fine example of an Early Byzantine coenobium. Its founder, Martyrios, later became patriarch of Jerusalem (478-486). Its abbot Paul was appointed deputy of Theodosios (see above), while another abbot, Domitianus, is known to have travelled to Constantinople in 536. In the second half of the sixth century, under abbot Genesius, and possibly with the contribution of Justinian, the prosperous monastery was renovated and expanded: the hospice, various chapels, the bathhouse and the imposing refectory were added at that time. The sixth-century monastery occupied an area of about 5200m2, and was enclosed by a defensive wall (70,6 m x77,4 m x65,4 m x74 m). A separate hospice, with its own chapel and stable, lay at its north eastern corner. Two parallel paved passages led from the entry gates in the eastern wall to a large paved courtyard; in between them stood the church complex. A stable, various service rooms, a large refectory and kitchen, a bath, and a residential building with spacious patio, gave onto the central courtyard. Large numbers of pottery, metal and glass vessels, including table- and kitchen ware, storage jars and lamps, were excavated inside the complex. Two marble tables (one in the kitchen, another in the refectory), marble masonry and stone carvings attest to a certain opulence of the decoration and furnishings.