Monastery of Saint Hilarion / Tel Um Amer
<p>The Monastery of Saint Hilarion / Tell Umm Amer is located in the coastal dunes of Nusayret. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the Middle East, dating back to the 4th century AD. It was founded by Saint Hilarion and gradually developed from a place for hermit monks to a collective monastic community, becoming the first monastic community in the "Holy Land" and laying the foundation for the spread of monastic customs in the local area. The monastery is located at the intersection of many trade and transportation routes in the Asian and African continents. Its superior geographical location makes it a hub for religious, cultural and economic exchanges, and an example of the thriving desert monastic centers in the Byzantine period. </p>