Located on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion, Dormition Abbey is a famous holy Christian site and an architectural gem. By Catholic tradition, this abbey commemorates the assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the Pentecost. An ebony sculpture in a crypt below the church presents Mary’s sleeping position (dormition) before being lifted by Jesus to the heavens.

The church’s ground floor is devoted to the Pentecost, which caused the Disciples to speak in “many tongues” to spread Christianity better (Acts 2). Its floor and wall are decorated with various icons and symbols representing the Pentecost and Christian saints.

The abbey was completed in 1910 and is maintained by the Benedictine order.  Its architecture blends Romanesque and Byzantine styles, boasting a striking bell tower and colorful mosaics. During its construction, archaeologists uncovered the foundations of Medieval and Byzantine-era churches, some of which are still visible.

Touring the Dormition Abbey

The convent is open every day of the week, except Sundays when it is closed till noon. It also runs a popular coffee bar and a big souvenir shop. The abbey is comfortably located next to the site of the Last supper and King David’s Tomb mark, and is a short walk from Jerusalem’s Old city.

A tour of Dormition Abbey can be combined with a guided day tour of Jerusalem.