Dominus Flevit Church

View through the window of the church

Dominus Flevit is a Roman Catholic church located on the Mount of Olives immediately facing the Old City of Jerusalem in modern day Israel.

History

Dominus Flevit, which translates from Latin as "The Cry of the Lord" or "The Lord Wept", was fashioned in the shape of a teardrop in honor of its name. Here, according to the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus, while walking toward the city of Jerusalem, becomes overwhelmed by the beauty of the Second Temple and predicting its future destruction, and the diaspora of the Jewish people, weeps openly. Luke 19, 37-42.

One of the newest churches in Jerusalem, Dominus Flevit sits atop an ancient site. During construction of the sanctuary archaeologists uncovered artifacts dating back to the Canaanite period, as well as tombs from both the Second Temple and Byzantine eras.

The site of Christ's weeping was unmarked until the Crusader era. It was during this time that people began commemorating the site. Eventually a small chapel was built there. After the fall of Jerusalem the church fell into ruin. In the early sixteenth century a mosque or madrasah was built from the remains of the earlier church, although the exact use is disputed. This place was known as el Mansouriyeh (The Triumphant.)

The Franciscans were unable to obtain the ruins, so, in 1891 they purchased a small plot of land nearby and built a small chapel there. In 1913 a private home was built in front of the Franciscan chapel. This home eventually passed to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, who eventually sold it to a Portuguese woman. In 1953 during construction of a boundary wall for this home, workers unearthed ancient tombs. The site was thoroughly excavated and the current church built between 1953-1955.

A late bronze era tomb from the Canaanite period, as well as a necropolis used from 136 BC to 300 AD were discovered. The necropolis spanned two separate periods, characterized by differing tomb styles. The earlier Second Temple era tombs were of the Kokhim style. While the Byzantine era section was comprised of tombs with arcosolium from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. A Byzantine monastery from the 5th century was also discovered. Mosaics from this monastery still remain at the site.

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

Construction

The modern sanctuary was designed by Antonio Barluzzi for the Franciscan order between 1953 and 1955.

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 Basilica of the Agony at Gethsemane, the Church of the Visitation at Ein Kerem, and the Church of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa. St. Lazarus' in Bethany, is another example of Barluzzi?s designs.

External links

• Virtual Tour of Jerusalem @ jerusalem360.com - Interactive Panoramas from Israel
• Dominus Flevit: history of the site
• Dominus Flevit — Jerusalem Photos Portal
• The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land

Further reading

• Bellarmino Bagatti and Milik, 1968. Gli scavi del Dominus Flevit An account of the excavations, 1953-55.

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