Cross Monastery (Jerusalem)

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The monastery church
The monastery in winter

The Cross Monastery (Arabic Deir el-Musalliba ) is a mighty, fortress-like church building in Jerusalem . It is southeast of the Knesseth and east of the Israel Museum . The tree that made the cross of Christ is said to have stood here . It was founded by Georgian monks in the 11th century and has been part of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem since the 17th century .

Legend

The legend has it that Lot after he had separated from his two daughters, settled here and planted the tree that was later used for Jesus' cross.

history

There are two different traditions about the foundation of the monastery: either Helena , the mother of Emperor Constantine (according to Greek Orthodox tradition) founded the monastery during her visit to Palestine, or the area was given to Mirian III by Emperor Constantine . , the first Christian king of Georgia, and he built the first church.

From 1039 to 1056 the present monastery was built by King Bagrat of Georgia on the ruins of a church from the 5th century. In the period that followed, parts of the monastery complex were destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1685 the monastery was sold to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as a result of the decreasing number of Georgian monks. Numerous Georgian manuscripts are kept in the Patriarchate Library to this day and can be viewed on weekdays.

description

Fresco with fantasy images of John of Damascus and Maximus the Confessor, allegedly including Rustaveli
Rustaveli fresco, damaged in 2004

The monastery is a fortress-like structure surrounded by high medieval walls. Behind it is a spacious complex with buildings that are designed with arcades , staircases and terraces . The church tower is baroque , the church itself dates back to the 12th century. The shiny silver dome of the monastery church dates from the time of the Crusaders and contains old frescoes and mosaics . The church is entered through a narthex , from which one reaches the main nave . A dome rests on four pillars above the altar, and in the sanctuary there is also a silver ring that marks the place of the tree. The columns and walls are decorated with frescoes from the 12th and 17th centuries and tell not only biblical motifs but also the legend of the tree from which the wood for the cross of Jesus is said to come. Remnants of the floor of the original church from the 5th century can also be seen.

In the 13th century, the Georgian national poet Shota Rustaveli (Shota Rustaveli), the author of the Georgian national epic The Warrior in a Tiger Skin, lived in the monastery. His remains rest in the church, and a fresco as a kneeling figure at the feet of John of Damascus and Maximus the Confessor (Georgian national saint ) commemorates him .

literature

Web links

Commons : Kreuzkloster (Jerusalem)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Max Küchler: Jerusalem. A handbook and study guide to the Holy City . 2nd Edition. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-647-50173-4 , p. 708 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

Coordinates: 31 ° 46 ′ 19.3 "  N , 35 ° 12 ′ 30.2"  E