Taybeh
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| Taybeh | |
| Arabic | الطيبه |
| Government | Municipality |
| Governorate | Ramallah & al-Bireh |
| Population | 2,100 (2006) |
| Jurisdiction | dunams |
Taybeh is a Palestinian town located 35km NorthEast of the city of Jerusalem in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 2,100 inhabitants in mid-2006.
[edit] History
The town is considered to be the site of the biblical Ophrah, which is mentioned in the Book of Joshua (18,23).
Jesus, after Lazarus' resurrection, retired with his disciples to this town. John says, "Since that day on, they (the Pharisees) made the decision to kill him. Jesus did not walk in public among the Jews anymore. He went away to a region near the desert, to a city called Aphram, and it was there that he and his disciples dwelt" (H, 53-56). This happened during the first days of Nissan in the year 30. It was at this point that Jesus retired on a rocky hill which was situated 8km from Taybeh towards the Jordan, in order to fortify his spirit, pray, fast, and expose himself to temptation. That is why this rocky hill is known as (Qarantal), from the Latin root "Quarenta" (forty), which alludes to the forty days Jesus fasted. According to the Evangelist, Taybeh-Aphram is the isolated place where Jesus found the diaphanous quietness to prepare himself and his disciples for the great sacrifice.
In the fifth century, a church was built in the eastern part of the town, probably in memory of the Master's passing. Today this church is known as St. George's Church. In the 12th century, the Crusaders built another church affixed to the first one. In 1185, Balduinus IV, King of Jerusalem, gave Boniface de Monteferrat the castle of St. Elias, placed in the higher part of the city.
In 1187, Saladin camped in Tall Al Assur - a high point that dominated the region - during his battles against the Crusaders. Many delegations travelled to greet him, including some inhabitants of Aphram. When the leader asked about the village from where this delegation came, one of his soldiers apparently said, "They are from Afra", a badly pronounced word in Arabic which implies "full of dust." Saladin was really affected by the goodness of these Aphrami men, as well as by the beauty of their faces. He therefore ordered to change the name of their hometown from Afra to Taybeh-al-ism, which means "beautiful of name."
St. George's Church is the most interesting church in Taybeh. Built in the Byzantine period, it consists of a nave and two side chapels, preceded by a beautiful flight of stairs. The church is 29 m wide by 25 m long.
This church is venerated by the Christian people of Taybeh. They come to it to fulfill their vows by sacrificing a lamb at its doorsteps, a tradition recollected by all visitors, either old or modern. In other towns in the Holy Land, the sacrificed lamb is divided into three shares, one to the poor, another to the priest, and the third one to the person who made the offering; however, the Christians of Taybeh do not divide the sacrificed animal. They give it entirely to the poor. Perhaps these are vestiges of ancient Canaanite worship which continue to bloom in their religion.
This church, St. George (Mar Jiryes), is named after one of the most universally devout saints, he whom was born in the Palestinian city of Ramleh-Lod. However, the general name of St. George (Mar Jiryes) in Palestine, as in all of the Christian and Muslim Arab world, is "El Khader" (The Green), or in Taybeh, "El Khadar." This nomination is attributed to the green mantle that Armenian-Canaanite people were obliged to use across historical Syria by the Roman Empire, so as to distinguish them as plebeian, common people. Leading the Arab armies who liberated that country from Roman domination, Khaled Ibnul Walid conquerered Damascus dressed with a green mantle so as to be identified with the Armenian cause against the Romans. It is from that symbol that the name "Khadar" (the green savior) originates, in relation with the liberating condition of (Mar Jiryes) who saved the Virgin Mary from the evil dragon. In dangerous moments, Taybeh people call out: "Ya Khadar!" (Oh Green Savior).
[edit] Charles de Foucauld in Taybeh
Charles de Foucauld, an explorer and French hermit, born in Straesburg (1853-1916) had a hectic life that features a prolonged chapter, rich in spirituality, in the country of Jesus. Arriving in 1888 as a simple pilgrim, de Foucauld passed through Taybeh in January of 1889. But it was only in 1897 that he came back to the Holy Land to relive the mysteries of our redemption. He walked to all of the evangelical places like a poor pilgrim. He lived in the Franciscan Clarisses' Monastery in Nazareth to practice "Nazareth's life," hidden and humble.
In 1898, he accepted the hospitality of Jerusalem Clarisses, and during this period of his life he decided to visit Taybeh-Aphram again. A result of his staying in the evangelical place is the "Eight Days in Aphram, retreat of 1898, from Monday after IV Lent Sunday, (March 14th) through Monday, after IV Lent Sunday (March 21st)." 45 pages of his "Spiritual Writings" were inspired by this evangelical place.
Charles de Foucauld's retreat in Taybeh-Aphram continues to induce his disciples and followers to come to this place to spend some days immersing themselves in a climate of evangelical spirituality.
[edit] Two Monasteries in Taybeh
The mystical surroundings of Taybeh-Aphram are an ideal place to practice a contemplative life. During the Byzantine period, a flourishing and prosperous civilization existed here.
Three kilometers away from Taybeh to the south, in the middle of the rustic environment, are the ruins of a small monastery which crowds the top of a naked mountain. This place is known as Dar Hayye, or the Snake's Home. Its buildings have been completely destroyed over the years, and its stones have been used as a quarry. At present, only the basis of the monastic buildings remains, and form a rectangle of some 40 meters from North to South by 20 meters from East to West. Without excavations, it would be impossible to know the purpose of each building.
The view of the landscape from the monastery is magnificent. To the North, on a hill, is the evangelical city of Taybeh. To the East, is the biblical town of Rhammus. To the South in the background, you can see the Olivete Mont (Mount of Olives?), with its towers dominating Jerusalem.
Some 4 miles to the east of Taybeh, in the middle of a rocky terrain, the ruins of a second monastery can be found. These ruins are known by the people of Taybeh by the name of Chilia - Kilia, according to The Survey of Western Palestine, vol 2, p 395 - alteration to the Green term kilia, or 'cell.'
The monastery consists of a funeral chapel and the different outbuildings necessary for communal life. The whole monastery is built of ashlar. There are also four banisters, which hint at the former existence of a chapel.
The monastic building stretches 165 feet from East to West, and 132 feet from North to South. Near the monastic complex there is a vast stoned enclosure.
There is also a relatively recent towering building, although it has been constructed of stones from the Byzantine period. One can see crosses and graphics engraved on some of these stones by a rectangle. In Syria, this type of graphic is related to the reclusive life. Perhaps these symbols are the traces of a reclusive monk who lived here.
At the very least, this monastery, isolated and in the middle of a rustic environment, is an ideal place to devote oneself to the contemplative life. From here, one overlooks the Judah desert, furrowed by deep gorges that lead to the Jordan depression.
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