Dormition Abbey (Location of Last Supper)

Dormition Abbey is located on the crest of Mount Zion outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City and is near the place where the Last Supper took place, otherwise known as the Cenacle. The fortress-like building, with a conical roof and four corner towers, stands south of the Old City’s Zion Gate.

 

The structure was first built in the 2nd century. Some have speculated it may have been a synagogue for early Jewish Christians because the building is not oriented toward the temple, but rather northward the direction of Golgotha. Although the structure is medieval, the foundations of the building are from a much earlier time period. The second level of the building is the Cenacle. The first level contains an empty sarcophagus used as a memorial for King David. A sarcophagus is a box-like funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved in stone, and displayed above ground, though it may also be buried.

 

The name, Cenacle, comes from the Latin word which means "supper room" because the Gospels mention that the Last Supper took place in "a large upper room." (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12). The Cenacle is on the upper floor of a two-story building near the Church of the Dormition Abbey.
 

The Crusaders called the room the "Chamber of Mysteries" referring to the doctrinal teachings of Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13-15) which is the on the second level of the structure.

 

The room was later turned into a mosque (16th century), as one can see from the Arabic inscriptions and the mihrab which indicates the direction to pray toward Mecca.

The Last Supper is the setting for some of the most important events and teachings of the ministry of Jesus, including: predicting betrayal of Judas, instituting the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, washing the feet of His apostles and sacred teachings about love, obedience, the Comforter and the famous Intercessory Prayer. (John 13-17).

Photo above: Keena and Brittany. Photo below : Julia was such a sweet girl and always had a smile.

Photo: We went out onto the roof for a better view of our surroundings.

Photo: Outside on roof.

We are headed now into the Church of Dormition Abbey.

Statue: King David. The present church is a circular building with several niches containing altars, and a choir. Two spiral staircases lead to the crypt, the site ascribed to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, and also to the organ-loft and the gallery, from where two of the church's four towers are accessible.

Above Dormition Abbey is the minaret of a Muslim mosque; immediately beneath it is the Jewish shrine venerated as the Tomb of King David (though he is not buried there).

Photo: Minarette. Out of regard for the nearby Muslim sacred place of Nebi Daud ("tomb of David"), which occupies the building in the Upper Room where traditionally the Last Supper took place, the bell tower is set far enough away that its shadow does not touch Nebi Daud, and is therefore not directly accessible from the church.

Photo: Mosaic floor inside church.

This is also supposedly the place (or near the location) where Mary (mother of Jesus) died a natural death.

Jerusalem is one of the oldest & holiest cities in the world, home to important religious sites for Muslims, Jews, and Christians.