Anab Al-Kabir / Al-Dhahiriya
Anab is a village located approximately 22 kilometers from the city of Hebron. It is bordered to the east by the village of Umm al-Qasab, to the north by the town of Dhahiriya, to the west by al-Ramadin, and to the south by the village of Somara.
The Byzantine church in question is situated 300 meters east of the current village. It was likely built as a religious center for the neighboring Christian communities, and is considered one of the most important, magnificent, and beautifully designed Byzantine churches in southern Palestine.
The church was constructed in a basilica style, with three aisles, two side aisles, and a central aisle, as well as an octagonal apse on the exterior. A front aisle and a water collection well were also added in the fifth century AD, when the church was first built. The floor was paved with exquisite mosaics depicting various bird motifs, and a stone baptismal basin was present.
In a later stage, a northern portico was added to the church, indicating its central role in Khirbet Anab and the surrounding agricultural villages. It is believed that a second floor was also constructed during this period, as evidenced by the presence of a staircase in the church's front passage.
In the eighth century AD, the mosaic floor underwent a change, with the living drawings, especially the bird motifs, being distorted and obliterated, likely due to religious beliefs at the time, whether Islamic or Christian. During this period, the church was used for housing, and additional buildings were constructed on the site, including a kitchen. A grave belonging to one of the monks buried under the church's floor was also discovered.
The church remained inhabited until the 14th century, but the reason for its eventual demolition and abandonment is unclear.
Interestingly, the northwestern side of the church contains some of the largest and most important grape and olive presses in the area.