The oldest church in Jerusalem

The Church of John the Baptist.
Enjoy visiting one of the most famous churches in Palestine that dates back to the eleventh century or the magnificent dome dating back to the twelfth century and remains a small part of the Byzantine church built to Immortalize John the Baptist.

The Crusaders built the Church of John the Baptist, but it was demolished after their departure. The Franciscan monks bought and rebuilt this site and then the church was rebuilt with the help of the Spanish royal family.

You will see in this church many original paintings. These paintings were presented by Spanish artists to the rulers of Spain who gave them gifts to the church. You will notice that the church’s walls were covered with white and blue tiles, and this is in the Spanish style.

During the excavations it was found a small church as well as two tombs carved in the rock, so you will see these wonderful contents inside this church and when you enter this church you will find two symbols. On the left you will find the Jerusalem Cross, which is a large cross parallel to the sides with small crosses on it, but on the right, there is the symbol of the Franciscan of the Church.

The church is in the form of a huge building separated by three lanes and has two very large columns. When you look at the roof you will go find a large number of stained glass, so this church has wonderful artistic manifestations.

This church includes three-dimensional images that represent the cross. If you stand in front of the main temple, you will find stairs to a cave and this cave is believed to represent the residence of Zacharias, and in this place the birth of John the Baptist was honoured.

Who is John the Baptist?
You will visit the Church of John the Baptist, which has a long history. It witnessed many important events that pertain to John the Baptist, and he was the Prophet of God Yahya the son of Zachariah.

This prophet believed Christ and he was preparing for his appearing. This is a person who was a prophet from God. His mother was barren she was the wife of Zakaria, and his father and mother were old and they were asking God to give them a child.

×ne day, when Zachariah was at the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that his wife would give birth to him a child as well as Gabriel told him that this child will be good, He does not drink wine nor does anything that anger God, and that he will have a role in guiding his people.

Where did John the Baptist live?
This prophet lived in the wilderness and he was very austere he was distinguished by simplicity and asceticism, and he wore camel hair and used to eat locusts and wild honey.

He always put people to repentance. As for his life, John the Baptist was ended at the hands of Herod the king of Palestine, because he married the one who was his brother’s wife and this marriage was illegal and legitimate, so his ruling life was full of sins.

How will your tour inside the Church of John the Baptist?
Be ready to visit the Church of John the Baptist, which is the Catholic Church in the Ein Karem area in Jerusalem, and this church is affiliated with the Franciscan monk and was built in the place where Saint John the Baptist was born.

You will visit one of the most famous churches in the world, which is the Church of John the Baptist. The church has a long history that all archaeologists know, and in 1941 the Franciscans dug in the area where the church and the monastery are located and discovered the graves and carved rooms.

They also discovered a contemporary of wine and some small churches with mosaic tiles on it. This church is a small Greek Orthodox church and this church dates back to the eleventh century and the domes Which you will visit dates back to the Roman era and the Byzantine era.

The Church of John the Baptist is a beautiful architectural masterpiece.
The Church of John the Baptist has a silver dome, and it is one of the most famous architectural artifacts that Jerusalem inherited from the Byzantine era. This is a church built in the small cross-style. When you enter the church, you will notice that it is one of the oldest churches in Palestine.

When you stand in the centre of the church, you will find on the right the southern crossed party, on the left the northern crucifixion, and in the east, you will see the magnificent alter so you will be dazzled by the architectural artifacts inside.

This church belongs to the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Ayyubid period, and this church is one of the most beautiful churches in the world because you will notice that the domes, walls and ceilings are covered with a lot of oil paintings that talk about events that took place in this region.

Start in this church, so you will know the wonderful story that perpetuates the transfer of the head and body of John the Baptist after his murder by the ruler of Palestine from the Mount of Olives and then the old town in Jerusalem, and then to its fixed place where the church was built.

You will find this church on the southwestern side of sook Aftenos area, and it has a very wide area and you will see a very beautiful tomb covered with mosaics dating back to the fifth century.

You will notice some drawings that express the Christian pilgrims in this place and this church was not subjected to digestion due to the Persian siege of the city of Aqaba, Jerusalem, unlike the rest of the churches.

You will enjoy a wonderful tour in this wonderful place and you will see the art of architecture is at its best in this church. You will notice the presence of some clear images of the Virgin Mary and Christ, and enjoy watching the wonderful altar there.