In Jordan, in his eighties, Archimandrite Justin (Mamallos) died, the man who was responsible for one of the most revered biblical monuments in the Holy Land for almost half a century. Sources close to the Jerusalem Patriarchate reported his death. Father Justin died after a long illness, surrounded by loved ones.
The name of Archimandrite Justin is closely connected with the monastery at Jacob’s Well — the same one where, according to the Gospel of John, Christ talked with the Samaritan woman. The well is located in Nablus, a city called Shechem in biblical times, at the eastern foot of Mount Gerizim. Today it is the territory of the Palestinian National Authority.
Father Justin came to the monastery in 1979, immediately after the tragic death of his predecessor, Saint Philoumen (Hasapis). He was killed in the altar of the monastery by a fanatic vandal. To be in the place of the martyr and continue his work is a task that required not only obedience, but also real determination.
Over the years of service, Archimandrite Justin did not just guard the shrine — he essentially recreated the monastery from scratch. On the territory of the monastery, a temple was built in honor of Saint Photinia of Samaritan — the same woman from the Gospel story. A large-scale reconstruction was carried out, beautification of the territory, work with pilgrims who flocked to the well from all over the Christian world.
The ministry of Father Justin cannot be called calm. According to the testimonies of people who knew him, attempts were made on his life more than thirty times. The region where the monastery is located has remained a zone of tension for decades, and the Orthodox monastery in Samaria has come under attack more than once. Nevertheless, Father Justin did not go anywhere — he remained in his post year after year.
Father Justin belonged to the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, an ancient monastic community of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, whose obedience is connected with the shrines of the Holy City and the surrounding lands. This brotherhood is served by monks who are entrusted with the care of the most significant Christian monuments.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem will announce the time and place of burial later, when all the details have been agreed upon. Considering that Father Justin spent his last days in Jordan, it is possible that the farewell will take place there — or his body will be taken to Jerusalem for burial in the Holy Land, to which he devoted his entire adult life.
The death of Archimandrite Justin is the passing of not just a person, but an entire era in the life of the Jacob’s Well Monastery. It was thanks to his perseverance and loyalty that the monastery was preserved and became the place where today thousands of pilgrims come to touch the shrine that stands at the origins of Christian history.
Charity FundndHoly Land
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