Dominus Flevit Church

"8:00-11:45; 14:30-17:00 free Dominus Flevit, which translates from Latin as “The Lord Wept”, was fashioned in the shape of a teardrop to symbolize the tears of Christ. 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 Templeand predicting its future destruction, and the diaspora of the Jewish people, weeps openly The church was designed and constructed between 1953 and 1955 by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi and is held in trust by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.The altar is located on the western side, over viewing the old city. The window behind it frames a view of the old city behind it. This orientation of the church is unusual, since most of the Christian churches face the east – towards Jerusalem or the rising sun. But here the orientation was set according to the direction of Jesus, when he was weeping over the fate of Jerusalem. The church was built inside the ruins of a 5th-6th C Byzantine church, and incorporated some of its remains. A beautiful mosaic floor was left from the ancient church, and is located behind the entrance. There are several second temple period findings in the burial caves near the church (dated to 2nd C BC – 1st C AD). Near the entrance are two large caves with dozens of ossuaries (stone coffins) that are on display. Possibly the first Christian cemetary."