Church of All Nations (Jerusalem)

''For other churches called Church of All Nations, see Church of All Nations (disambiguation).

History

The Church of All Nations, also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, is a Roman Catholic church located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, next to the Garden of Gethsemane. It enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest, Mark 14: 32- 42.

The current church rests on the foundations of two earlier ones, that of a 12th century Crusader chapel abandoned in 1345, and a 4th century Byzantine basilica, destroyed by an earthquake in 746.

Use by Other Denominations

An open altar located in the gardens of the church is used by the Anglican community on Holy Thursday

Construction

The chapel was built between 1919 and 1924 using funds donated from many different countries. These multi-national donations give the church it's presesnt title as the Church of "All Nations". The symbols of each country are incorporated into the glass of the ceiling, each in a separate, small dome. The facade of the church is supported by a row of corinthian columns set below a modern mosaic depicting Jesus Christ as the symbolic link between God and humanity. The bubble-domed roof, thick columns, and facade mosaic, give the church a Byzantine look architecturally.

The church was designed by architect Antonio Barluzzi between 1919 and 1924. Barluzzi, the architect of several shrines and sanctuaries built during the first half of the 20th century is also known for some of his other works in Jerusalem, such as the sanctuary church of Dominus Flevit, the Church of the Visitation at Ein Karem, and the Church of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa.

St. Lazarus' in Bethany, is another example of Barluzzi’s designs.

The church is currently held in trust by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.

References

• Basilica of the Agony (Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website)

External links

• Virtual Tour inside the church Taken at December 2007
• Virtual Tour outside of the church Taken at December 2007
• Virtual Tour of Jerusalem @ jerusalem360.com - Interactive Panoramas from Israel
• Mount of Olives - Churches on Mount of Olives. Photos and general information.
• Jerusalem Photo Archive - Christian Quarter
• - Picture slide show of Church of All Nations
• The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land

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Last updated on Tuesday March 04, 2008 at 22:52:39 PST (GMT -0800)
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