The narrow stretch of desert between the Jordan Valley and the hill country of Judea drew great biblical prophets-Elijah and John the Baptist-and unforgettable christian ascetics. Our best source of information on this movement from AD 400-600 comes from Cyril's pen.
Between the deep valley which contains the Jordan river and the Dead Sea, and the hill country of Judea, in which Jerusalem and Bethlehem are situated, lies a narrow stretch of desert which evokes memories of great Biblical ascetics - Elijah and John the Baptist. The empty landscape...