Church of John the Baptist

John the Baptist was a preacher who conducted baptisms on the banks of the Jordan River.

He was later beheaded by King Herod Antipas. Since then, many legends and rumors about the whereabouts of John’s remains have been born. One of these places, not without reason is considered the church of John the Baptist in Jerusalem.

The oldest church in the city begins its history in the 5th century, in the distant Byzantine era, with the active participation of Empress Eudokia. In 614, Jerusalem capitulated to the onslaught of the Persians and they literally trampled a huge number of Christian values, including the church of John the Baptist. A new revival begins with the return of Jerusalem under the rule of Byzantium and in the 7th century, under the patronage of the Patriarch of Alexandria, the church is restored. In the 11th century, Italian merchants thoroughly reconstructed the church and built a hospital for pilgrims. Later, wounded Knights of Creston are treated in the hospital and the Order of the Knights of St. John Hospital of Jerusalem is founded. After returning to the city of Muslims in 1189, the church collapsed and even turned into a mosque for a while. It was only in the early 16th century that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem bought the church.

With such apparent external simplicity, the church of John the Baptist is famous for its rich interior and magnificent works of art. The church is located in the Christian quarter, south of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at the address of the street. 113 Christian Quarter Rd Old City Muristan.