The cave of the Prophet Elijah has religious significance for Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze alike.

Pilgrims attribute magical qualities and healing powers to the cave, where according to tradition, Elijah took refuge from the evil King Ahab. The cave has a Torah ark and a space in the ceiling where visitors place prayer notes. The walls of the cave are covered in writings left by pilgrims who visited through the centuries, including one signed by a Roman soldier named Germanous.

A monastery above Elijah’s cave is devoted to the Carmelites; Christians believe that Jesus and his family hid in this same cave when escaping King Herod.