Jerusalem is a city of contrasts. In Israel, permanent hostilities between Muslims and Jews are taking place, at the same time, Jews, Arabs, Armenians and others peacefully live in this holy place.
Jerusalem temples bear the memory of several millennia. The walls remember the decrees of Cyrus the Great and Darius I, the revolt of the Maccabees and the rule of Solomon, the expulsion of merchants from the temple by Jesus.
Read on, and you will learn many interesting things from the history of temples in the holiest city of the planet.
Jerusalem
The temples of Jerusalem have been impressive for thousands of years. This city is truly considered the most sacred on earth, as believers of the three religions strive here.
The temples of Jerusalem, photos of which will be given below, relate to Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Today, tourists are eager for the Wailing Wall, al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, as well as the Ascension Church and the Temple of Our Lady.
Jerusalem is also famous in the Christian world. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher (photo will be shown at the end of the article) is considered not only the place of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This shrine also indirectly became one of the reasons for the beginning of an era of the Crusades.
Old and New Town
Today, there is New Jerusalem and Old. If we talk about the first, then it is a modern city with wide streets and high-rise buildings. It has a railway, the latest shopping complexes and a lot of entertainment.
The construction of new neighborhoods and their settlement by Jews began only in the nineteenth century. Prior to this, people lived within the modern Old Town. But the lack of space for construction, lack of water and other discomforts contributed to the expansion of the borders of the settlement. It is noteworthy that the first residents of new homes were paid money to move because of the city wall. But they nevertheless returned to the old quarters long enough at night, as they believed that the wall would protect them from enemies.
The new city today is famous not only for innovation. It has many museums, monuments and other attractions that relate to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
However, from the point of view of history, it is the Old City that is more important. Here are the oldest shrines and monuments that belong to the three world religions.
The old city is part of modern Jerusalem, once located behind the wall of the fortress. The district is divided into four quarters - Jewish, Armenian, Christian and Muslim. It is here that millions of pilgrims and tourists come here every year.
World shrines are considered some Jerusalem temples. For Christians, this is the temple of the Holy Sepulcher, for Muslims - the Al-Aqsa Mosque, for Jews - the rest of the temple in the form of the Western Wall (Wailing Wall).
Let's talk in more detail about the most popular Jerusalem shrines that are revered throughout the world. Many millions of people turn in their direction during prayer. What are these temples so famous for?
First temple
Not a single Jew could ever call the sanctuary "the temple of Yahweh." This was contrary to religious precepts. “The name of Gd cannot be spoken, ” therefore the sanctuary was called the “Holy House, ” “the Palace of Adonai, ” or the “House of Elohim.”
So, the first stone temple was built in Israel after the unification of many tribes by David and his son Solomon. Prior to this, the sanctuary was in the form of a portable tent with the Ark of the Covenant. Small places of worship are mentioned in several cities, such as Bethlehem, Shechem, Givat Shaul and others.
The symbol of the unification of the Israeli people was the construction of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. The king chose this city for one reason - it was on the border of the possessions of the family of Yehuda and Benjamin. Jerusalem was considered the capital of the Jebusite people.
Therefore, at least from the side of the Jews and the Israelites, he should not have been plundered.
David purchased Mount Moriah (today known as the Temple) from Aravna. Here, instead of the threshing floor, an altar to God was laid in order to stop the disease that struck the people. It is believed that it was at this place that Abraham was going to sacrifice his son. But the prophet Naftan urged David not to engage in the construction of the temple, but to assign this responsibility to the grown son.
Therefore, the First Temple was erected during the reign of Solomon. It existed before the destruction of Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.
Second temple
Almost half a century later, the new Persian ruler Cyrus the Great allows the Jews to return to Palestine and restore the temple of King Solomon in Jerusalem.
The decree of Cyrus allowed not only to return to the people from captivity, but also gave trophy temple utensils, and also ordered the allocation of funds for construction work. But after the tribes came to Jerusalem, after the construction of the altar, quarrels began between the Israelites and the Samaritans. The latter were not allowed to build the temple.
Finally, disputes were resolved only by Cyrus the Great, Darius Gistasp. He confirmed all the decrees in writing and personally ordered the completion of the sanctuary. Thus, exactly seventy years after the destruction, the main shrine of Jerusalem was restored.
If the First Temple was called Solomon, the newly-erected church was called Zerubbabel. But over time, it became dilapidated, and King Herod decides to reconstruct Mount Moria, so that the architectural ensemble fits into the more luxurious city blocks.
Therefore, the existence of the Second Temple is divided into two stages - Zerubbabel and Herod. Having survived the Maccabean revolt and the Roman conquest, the sanctuary took on a somewhat battered appearance. In 19 BC, Herod decides to leave a memory of himself in history along with Solomon and rebuilds the complex.
Especially for this, about a thousand priests were trained in construction for several months, since only they could get into the temple. The building of the sanctuary itself bore several Greco-Roman attributes, but the king did not insist on his change. But Herod completely created the external buildings in the best traditions of the Hellenes and Romans.
Only six years after the completion of the construction of the new complex, it was destroyed. The beginning of the anti-Roman uprising gradually spilled over into the First Judean War. Emperor Titus destroyed the sanctuary as the main spiritual center of the Israelites.
Third temple
It is believed that the third temple in Jerusalem will mark the coming of the Messiah. There are several versions of the appearance of this shrine. All variations are based on the book of the prophet Ezekiel, which is also part of the Tanach.
So, some believe that the Third Temple will miraculously arise overnight. Others argue that it needs to be erected, since the king showed the place by building the First Temple.
The only thing that does not raise doubts among all advocates for the construction is the territory where this building will be. Oddly enough, both Jews and Christians see him in a place above the foundation stone, where today Kubat al-Sahra is located.
Muslim shrines
Speaking of Jerusalem temples, one cannot focus solely on Judaism or Christianity. Here is also the third most important and most ancient shrine of Islam in origin. This is the al-Aqsa Mosque ("Remote"), which is often confused with the second Muslim architectural monument - Kubat al-Sahra ("Dome of the Rock"). It is the latter that has a large golden dome, which can be seen for many kilometers.
Al-Aqsa is located on the Temple Mount. It was built in 705 AD, by order of the caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab al-Faruk. The mosque was rebuilt several times, repaired, destroyed during the earthquake, served as the headquarters of the Templars. Today, this shrine is able to accommodate about five thousand believers.
It is important to remember that al-Aqsa has a bluish-gray dome and is significantly smaller than al-Sahra.
The "Dome of the Rock" delights in its architecture. It is not for nothing that many tourists experience mild stages of frustration due to a visit to Jerusalem. This city is simply amazing in its beauty, antiquity and concentration of history.
Al-Sahra was built at the end of the seventh century by two architects on the orders of the caliph Abd al-Malik al-Mervan. In fact, it was erected several years earlier than al-Aqsa, but it is not a mosque. In architectural terms, this is a dome over the sacred "foundation stone", from which, as they believe, the creation of the world began and Muhammad ascended to heaven ("miraj").
Thus, in Jerusalem there is a whole complex of Islamic shrines on the Temple Mount. This is a city of contrasts, despite the tense atmosphere in the region, just a few tens of meters from it, the Jews pray near the Wailing Wall.
Church of the Virgin
The Temple of the Virgin in Jerusalem, which today is officially called the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin, has an interesting and chaotic history.
It was built in 415 under Bishop John the Second. It was a Byzantine basilica called the “Holy Zion”. According to the testimony of John the Theologian, the Most Holy Mother of God lived and rested here. It is believed that the first sanctuary was erected on this site in part of the Last Supper and the indulgence of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost.
It was destroyed twice by the Persians (seventh century) and Muslims (thirteenth century). Restored by the locals, and then the crusaders. But the heyday of the monastery, which today is one of the abbeys, falls at the end of the nineteenth century.
After many centuries of Muslim dominion over this territory, during the landmark visit of Emperor Wilhelm II to Palestine, the Benedictine Order buys a piece of land for one hundred and twenty thousand marks in gold from the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdul Hamid II.
Since that time, diligent construction begins here, which was developed by the German brothers from the Catholic Order. The architect was Heinrich Renard. He planned to build a church similar to the Carolingian Cathedral in Aachen. It is noteworthy that, based on the German tradition in construction, masters introduced Byzantine and modern Muslim elements in the Monastery of the Assumption of Our Lady.
Today this sanctuary is in the possession of the German Holy Land Society. Its president is the Cologne archbishop.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
The Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem bears many names and names, however, all of them, one way or another, are a reflection of one thought. The shrine rises in the place where the Son of God was crucified. After that it was here that he rose. In this temple, the annual Holy Fire descent ceremony takes place.
The place where Jesus Christ suffered, died, and rose again was always revered by believers. His memory did not disappear after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and after several years of existence on this site of the temple of Venus, which was built under Hadrian.
Only in 325, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, who during his life was called Flavius Augustus (at the baptism of Helen), and after canonization was called Equal to the Apostles Helena, began the construction of a Christian church.
For a year, a church was laid at this place. It was built next to the Bethlehem Basilica under the leadership of Macarius. During the work, a whole complex of buildings was erected - from the temple-mausoleum to the crypt. It is noteworthy that this monumental composition is mentioned on the famous Madaba map, which dates back to the fifth century.
The Resurrection Church in Jerusalem was first consecrated during the reign of Constantine the Great with the personal presence of the emperor. Since 335, on this day, a significant event has been celebrated - the Renewal of the Temple (September 26).
It is noteworthy that, around 1009, Caliph al-Hakim transferred the ownership of the church to the Nestorians, partially destroying the building. When rumors of an incident reached Western Europe, this was one of the main reasons for the start of the Crusades.
In the mid-twelfth century, the Templars rebuild the temple complex. The Romanesque style of the building can be seen today in the New Jerusalem Temple near Moscow, which we will talk about later.
In the sixteenth century, an earthquake significantly spoiled the appearance of the shrine. The chapel has become a little lower, that is, what it looks like today. In addition, destruction affected the cuvuclia. The restoration of the buildings was done by Franciscan monks.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher today
As we mentioned earlier, the most popular pilgrimage destination in the Middle East is Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the photo of which is located below) attracts millions of believers for church holidays. After all, it is here that the Holy Fire descends annually. Although most of the online channels broadcast this ceremony, many people prefer to see the miracle with their own eyes.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, there was a fire in the temple, and part of Anastasis burned down, damage to the cuvuklia was also affected. The premises were quickly restored, but after a century it became obvious that the church needed restoration. The end of the first stage of work was prevented by World War II, so the final touches stretched right up to 2013.
Over half a century has been overhauled the entire complex, the rotunda and the dome.
Today the temple includes the place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Golgotha), a cuvuklia and a rotunda above it (there was a crypt where the body of the Son of God lay until he was resurrected), as well as the Temple of the Finding of the Cross, Katholikon, the Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Helena and a number of chapels.
Nowadays, the temple unites representatives of six faiths who share its territory and have their own hours of worship. These include Ethiopian, Coptic, Catholic, Syrian, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches.
An interesting fact is the following. In order to avoid the rash consequences of conflicts between different faiths, the key to the temple is in one Muslim family (Jude), and only a member of another Arab clan (Nuseybe) has the right to open the door. This tradition was established back in 1192 and is still honored.
