Dormition Abbey

Located outside the walls of the Old City, Dormition Abbey was originally built in the early 5th century on Mount Zion. Destroyed in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 1800s, the abbey is supposed to occupy the site where the Virgin Mary died. “Dormition” is the word used to describe the Virgin’s death, as she is said to have “fallen asleep” in the Bible since both her soul and body ascended to heaven.

The Dormition Abbey is one of the most prominent churches in Jerusalem due to its size, beauty and location that overlooks the old city. It stands out due to its round shape, unlike most of Jerusalem’s churches which are rectangular. Also, the cone-shaped dome has a form that is distinct from the other churches of Jerusalem. Another unique characteristic of the Dormition Abbey is the integration of motifs from east and west- a massive neo-Romanesque building, which is similar to ancient cathedrals in Europe, combined with white and red stones that characterize the Mameluke architecture.

The interior of the church is impressive, with a mosaic floor. In Dormition Abbey, the alcoves surrounding the hall are secondary altars which were donated by German Catholic communities. On top of the laying statue, there is a mosaic of Jesus, surrounded by female characters from the bible. The mosaic symbolizes the connection between, and the continuation from the bible- prophets to the apostles and four messengers of the Gospels.

Location: Jerusalem, Israel.

Website: http://www.dormitio.net/abtei/index.html

Tel: 972 2-565-5330

Hour: Open all hours

Google Rating: 4.5/5