Church and Monestary of the Holy Cross

The Monastery of the Holy Cross is an Eastern Orthodox monastery located in the Valley of the Cross. It is an important orthodox place of worship in the heart of Jerusalem about one mile west of the walls of the Old City. It is next to the Israeli Parliament and below the Israel Museum but tucked in an area that we had never been before. Its name is based on the tradition that it stands where the tree grew that was used to make Christ's cross. Joyce and Jeff took the Heiners and us to explore this today, our day off from work at the Jerusalem Center.

Legend has it that this monastery was erected from which grew the tree that gave its wood to the cross on which Christ was crucified.

It was a beautiful day and we were all feeling the need to explore.

We entered from the street through a very small door which opened up into a courtyard of an abbey and other buildings. For security reasons, there is only one door into the complex. For centuries this secluded abbey was repeatedly attacked by invaders. Therefore, it contains very few windows and many of its buildings are part of the compound’s surrounding wall.

Immediately on the right was a small gift shop and we couldn't resist looking inside before we toured the property. There was a sitting area with tables and chairs and a worker was setting up a stand to buy freshly squeezed orange juice.

Photo: Small door. There are many legends related to the beginning of the Monastery of the Holy Cross and it is difficult to verify which of them is true. One claims that the monastery dates back to the age of Emperor Constantine I. Another claims the monastery was founded by his mother, Saint Helen.

Since it was still morning, nobody else was around. We found the fortress-type structure had different levels with many rooms, staircases, hallways and smaller buildings all closely connected. Even though the open or main areas were not maintained, it was charming and obvious at one time was a very beautiful place. As we looked around, we kept thinking this would be a great place to restore and turn into a restaurant or place people where could come to get away from the hustle of the city.

Photo: This was the first room we found which was used as a sitting room or a place to relax, drink tea or socialize.

Photo: Ceiling.

The Monastery of the Holy Cross is currently occupied by monks of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The next area was a museum. However, there was no electricity so many of the rooms were dark so we used our cell phones as flashlights.

Photo: This used to be a well.

Photo: Filigree cross.

Photo: This was a beautifully carved stone candle holder.

Photo: We came upon this room with relics and clothing from past centuries. Every where we turned, we found another hallway or room and since we were alone, we found ourselves exploring every nook and cranny. All of this was apparently part of a very old abbey and monastery.

According to another legend, this monastery was founded by Emperor Heraclituc (610-641) and on his return from Persia in 628, he set up camp in the region now occupied by the monastery bringing with him the cross of Jesus to the place on the hill of Golgotha. In honor of the cross, he decided to build a monastery to be “the Monastery of the Holy Cross.”

We walked outside and went upstairs to what used to be the kitchen for the monastery.

Photo: This was the kitchen. A long, wooden paddle was used to place bread inside.

Photo: Inside and outside of the oven were long, wooden boards with round indentations. We assumed these were to bake the round loves of bread. (Ha, I really wasn't trying to match my shoes with Garth's shirt.)

Photo: There were very large pots in the kitchen.

Photo: Looking down from the kitchen to the outside where Jeff was standing.

Photo: Outside we saw this interesting fruit but have no idea what kind it was.

The monastery changed hands throughout history but in 1855, the Greek Orthodox patriarchy set up a very prestigious theological seminary in the compound. At that time, two upper floors and a belfry were added to the monastery, rooms were transformed into lecture rooms and the refectory (eating area) was enlarged.

During these years, the monastery opened a museum of antiquities in one of its halls enlarged the library with new works. A number of the seminary’s 450 students went on to become Greek Orthodox Patriarchs. Fifty-three years after its inauguration, the school closed down for lack of funds and only one or two monks remained in residence. The stunning, ancient abbey, the oldest standing monastery in Jerusalem, fell to ruin.

The monastery was constructed around the site of the tree stump from which the Cross was fashioned and until the 15th century, it is said, pilgrims could actually view the cut-off trunk. Nothing remains of the tree and apparently the early pilgrims cut pieces off with axes that they brought with them to the church. Now, all that remains is a decorative disk with a hole in the middle.

Photo: Inside church. The chapel is a three domed Basilica with a central dome and three lesser domes and is the only chapel in Jerusalem of this design. Mosaics adorn the inside that date back from the 6th century. Today it belongs to the Armenians as well as the Franciscan Church and Monastery of St. Savior.

After a complete overhaul at the beginning of the 1970s, the monastery and church opened to the public for the very first time. Its beautiful church, refectory, old-fashioned kitchen and museum have become an attraction for tourists but is not one of the most commonly sites visited on tours.

A richly decorated sanctuary separated the prayer hall from the altar area, and nearby part of a 6th-century mosaic floor was uncovered during restorations. It includes geometric shapes, plants, and even a few large fish which were a Christina symbol for faith.

Photo: Ceiling of church.

Several of the church’s square pillars and many of the walls are covered with glorious frescoes that are amazingly preserved considering their age.

Photo: Preserved in glass cases were religious robes and bibles.

Photo: Old Bible.

Photo: Another little chapel within the church.

After we exited the church, there was a sign which explained more about the tree from which the cross was made. I must explain there are several legends about the wood used in the cross, how it came about, who found it, and what happened afterwards. However, because some younger children are looking at this sight with their parents, I recommend they stop here and I will display the sign for adults to read at the conclusion of this post.

As previously mentioned, the monastery supposedly contains the site on which was planted the tree from which the Cross was constructed. According to legend, the Roman Governor of Judea (who oversaw the conviction of Christ) ordered that the Cross be constructed from cursed wood. He believed that with the variation of the height that Christ would suffer more and that with his crucifixion on this wood he would be further dishonored. Much later, this singular tree was chopped down to make beams for Solomon’s Temple. Because the beams were either too long, too short, or their ends curled up when put into place, Solomon’s workers cursed the beams and cast them aside.

Another legend says that the cross was recovered by a Byzantine emperor and on his way back to the crucifixion site he stayed overnight in a secluded valley about one mile west of Jerusalem (known today as the Valley of the Cross). As he slept, the cross rested next to the stump of the tree that had furnished its wood. Regardless of traditions and legends, Jesus did die on a cross of wood and this monastery and church stand as a symbol for that cross.