Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS
Almost all the major Christian churches
are represented in Jerusalem. The Greek
Orthodox (see p100) and Syrian churches
were the first to be established in the city.
Other ancient Christian communities
include the Armenians (see p107) , Copts and
Ethiopians. The Roman Catholic Church
established its own Patriarchate here in the
wake of the Crusades, and the most recent
arrivals were the Protestants. The Greek
Orthodox, Greek
Catholic and Roman
Catholic churches have
large congregations,
mostly of Palestinian
Arabs, while priests
and officials tend to
be Greek and Italian.
A Palm Sunday procession recreates Christ's
entry into Jerusalem. This is a prelude to Holy
Week, the most important Christian festival,
commemorating the Crucifixion on Good Friday
and Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Syrian Orthodox
Christmas in Bethlehem
Procession of Ethiopian priests in Jerusalem
Armenian priests in their black hooded copes
CHURCHES IN THE HOLY L A N D
The first churches did not appear in the Holy
Land until around AD 200 - the earliest
Christians gathered together in each other's
homes. Roman suspicion of unauthorized
sects kept these churches underground.
However, the conversion to Christianity of
the Roman emperor Constantine signalled a
rash of building on the sites connected with
the life of Christ. The usual type of Byzantine
church was the basilica, a longitudinal
structure with a nave (central aisle) lit by
windows in the walls of the side aisles.
The apse area, containing the altar, was
frequently concealed by an iconostasis, a
three-panelled screen adorned with icons.
Drum
Nave
Side
chapel
Apse
Pulpit
Iconostasis
Altar
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