Church of Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem
Bringing a taste of the Kremlin to Jerusalem, the 19th-century Church of Mary Magdalene is a distinctive Jerusalem landmark on the Mount of Olives.
The Church of Mary Magdalene was built by Tsar Alexander III in 1888 in the traditional Russian style. Easily spotted from the Temple Mount, the Russian church's seven golden domes have been newly gilded and sparkle in the sun. Combined with its multiple levels and sculpted white turrets, the church looks like something out of a fairytale.
The church is worth a close-up visit as well, for it stands in a tranquil garden and is filled with Orthodox icons and wall paintings inside.
The crypt holds the remains of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who was killed in the Russian revolution of 1917.
Also buried here is Princess Alice of Greece, who harbored Jews during the Nazi occupation of Greece.
Quick Facts on the Church of Mary Magdalene
Site Information | |
Names: | Church of Mary Magdalene · Russian Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene at Gethsemane · White Russian Church |
---|---|
Country: | Israel |
Categories: | churches |
Faiths: | Russian Orthodox |
Dates: | 1888 |
Status: | active |
Visitor and Contact Information | |
Coordinates: | 31.778827° N, 35.240654° E |
Address: | Jerusalem |
Lodging: | View hotels near the Church of Mary Magdalene |
References
- Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, Oxford Archaeological Guides: The Holy Land (Oxford, 1998).
- Kay Prag, Blue Guide to Israel and the Palestinian Territories (Black and Norton, 2002), 233.
- Daniel Jacobs, Mini Rough Guide to Jerusalem (Rough Guides, 1999), 109.
More Information
- Photos of the Church of Mary Magdalene - here on Sacred Destinations
Map of the Church of Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Church of Mary Magdalene. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.