Monastery of St: John in the Desert, Even Sapir.

Before St: John went to the Judean desert baptizing people, tradition says that he lived in a cave near Judean hills, not far from Ein Kerem where he was born. The modern monastery is built around this cave. It was Byzantine monks (5th cent) who started venerating the site and later Franciscan order of catholics possessed it. The land was then transferred to the Greek Catholics. In 2000, there erupted a dispute between Franciscans and Greek catholics over the site and an Israeli court verdict favoured the Franciscans. Today, the Franciscan-run six-hectare St. John in the Desert Monastery, includes a convent and a tomb said to be that of Elizabeth, John's mother. However, due to recent altercations between certain Orthodox Jewish groups and the inhabitants of the monastery, only pilgrims and secular groups led by a licensed tour guide are allowed inside . The Arabic name 'Ain al-Habis' meaning Spring of the Hermit preserves the ancient tradition tying the place to John.

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http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Christian+Themes/Details/Monastery+of+St.+John+in+the+Wilderness.htm

http://thetorontotimes.com/content/view/625/68/