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What religious institutions did Paula and St. Jerome establish in Bethlehem?
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St. Jerome
Saint Jerome, oil on canvas by JosĆ© de Ribera (Jusepe de Ribera, Lo Spagnoletto), c. 1638ā40; in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
By 389, Paula and St. Jerome established several religious institutions in Bethlehem to support their monastic life and the needs of travelers:
- A monastery for men: This was established under the direction of St. Jerome.1
- A convent for women: This consisted of three cloisters under the supervision of Paula.1
- A hostel: This facility was built to accommodate pilgrims.1
These foundations served as the base for St. Jeromeās significant scholarly work, including his translation of the Old Testament into Latin.12