Holy Armenia In The Heart Of Jerusalem

Explore ‘Holy Armenia’ in the heart of Old Jerusalem on this 2 hours tour from Jaffa Gate with a professional guide. Visit the Western Wall, St. James Cathedral, Gyulbenkyan Matenadaran, get a close look at the Armenian Quarter, and finally stop the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and more.

Welcome to Holy Armenia in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem – the "Cradle of faith", it is sacred to Armenians and other followers of the Armenian church that has a history that can be traced back thousands of years. If you are visiting for the first time, the Introduction Walk will take you to some of the most essential sights. Make sure to also explore the  St. James Cathedral one of the hierarchical chairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church: the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

 Weaving throughout the medieval lanes, you will get a feel of holy sites and get a close look at the centurial heritage of the ancient Armenian community. Armenia and Armenians have been in contact with Israel since the earliest times, especially during the reign of Tigran the Great, when the country came under the sovereignty of the Armenian king for a short time. A significant flow of Armenians to the area began in the early centuries of Christianity, and by the 4th century, Armenians had established churches and monasteries in Jerusalem. The Armenian secular community was formed later in the 7th century by Armenian merchants and craftsmen.

Moving into the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, the home to about 40 holy sites for Christians, in the streets here you will see priests and pilgrims from around the world. The tour follows part of the Via Dolorosa to the stunning Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here we see the site of Christ’s crucifixion and his burial tomb. You will discover how is the control of the church itself and how is shared the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, divided into six Christian denominations: Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Assyrian and Ethiopian, each with its own territory and prayer hours. There are several monasteries and auxiliary buildings in the area of ​​the temple. Here you will visit the Temple of Helena (Armenians call it the Chapel of St. Gregory the Illuminator, after the saint who brought Christianity to the Armenians) and the "Three Marys" section belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

There your expert guide will explain how the Christian communities control the tomb of the Lord: it is under the control of several. Orthodox (1 o'clock at night), Armenians (4 o'clock in the morning), and Catholics (from 6 to 9 o'clock in the morning) serve a liturgy there.