Dominus Flevit Church, Jerusalem
Dominus Flevit Church is a small Fransciscan church located on the upper western slope of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
Bible trivia buffs know that the shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, when "Jesus wept" over the death of Lazarus. But Dominus Flevit, which means "the cry of the Lord," commemorates a different occasion on which Jesus was moved to tears.
According to Luke 19:41, "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it" because "the days will come upon you when your enemies will... dash you to the ground." (Christians believe this was fulfilled in 70 CE, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.) Dominus Flevit Church is believed to mark the place where Christ wept for his people when he arrived in Jerusalem.
The current Dominus Flevit Church was commissioned by the Franciscans, who still run the site, and designed by Italian architect Anton Barluzzin. Constructed in 1954, the church is in the shape of a tear drop to symbolize the Lord's tears.
The current church stands on the ruins of a 7th-century church, some mosaics of which still remain. The western window in Dominus Flevit provides a beautiful view of the Temple Mount.
During the construction of the modern church, an ancient Jewish tomb dating to as early as the first century BC was discovered beneath. The tomb and several ossuaries (bone boxes) can be seen by visitors.
Visitor Information for Dominus Flevit
| Hours: | Daily 8am-12, 2:30-5. |
| Etiquette: | Wear modest dress (shoulders and knees covered). |
| Other: | There are rest rooms. |
More Information on Dominus Flevit
- Dominus Flevit – Christus Rex Fransciscan Cyberspot
- Dominus Flevit – Near East Tourist Agency