Chariton the Confessor

Life events

1. Born — 250

   Chariton was born in Iconium, capital of the Byzantine province of Lycaonia in Asia Minor, in the mid-3rd century.

2. Imprisoned

   Under Emperor Aurelian (270-275), Chariton was arrested and tortured in a persecution of Christians. Released from prison after Aurelian's death, he is recorded as having regretted that he had not died as a martyr.

3. Pilgrimage — 275

   Following his release in 275, Chariton set out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and other holy sites. En route, bandits abducted him and brought him to a cave in the Pharan Valley (upper Wadi Qelt).

4. Other — 275

   The traditional account states that Chariton's captors died after drinking wine poisoned by a snake. He chose to remain in the Pharan Valley cave as a hermit, built a church there, and founded the first lavra-type monastery, known as Pharan.

5. Other

   Seeking greater solitude after disciples gathered at Pharan, Chariton moved to the Mount of Temptation near Jericho, where he established the lavra of Douka on the ruins of the Hasmonean and Herodian Dok Fortress.

6. Other — 345

   Around 345, Chariton established a third monastic community in the Valley of Tekoa, named Souka and later called the Old Lavra. He eventually withdrew to a cliff cave at the site, the 'Hanging Cave of Chariton', to recover solitude from the crowds his presence drew.

7. Died — 350

   Chariton died around 350 in the Judaean desert. His remains were later translated to the Old Lavra at Souka, apparently after the Muslim conquest; the adjacent valley, Wadi Khureitun, preserves his name in its Arabic form.

Relationships

Documented claims

• Chariton is recognized as the founder of lavra-type monasticism in the Judaean desert, having established three separate lavras: Pharan, Douka near Jericho, and Souka (Old Lavra) in the Valley of Tekoa. (likely)
• The primary biographical source for Chariton is a 6th-century 'Life of Chariton' written by an anonymous monk; some of its details have been corroborated by modern archaeological excavations. (likely)
• The ascetic rule practiced at Chariton's lavras -- silence, eating only after sundown, manual work, nocturnal psalmody alternating with sleep, fixed-hour prayer, and control of thoughts -- became foundational traits of Judaean desert monasticism. (likely)
• According to tradition, Chariton compiled the 'Office of the Monastic Tonsure', the liturgical rite for receiving monks into the monastic habit. (legendary)
• The 'Hanging Cave of Chariton' at the Old Lavra in Tekoa, where he retreated from disciples to recover solitude, was rediscovered by Israeli archaeologist Yizhar Hirschfeld. (likely)