The Pater Noster Church is built on the site in Jerusalem where Jesus was thought to have taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. The name in Latin means “Our Father.” It is almost impossible to tell if this spot is the exact location of the teaching, we only know that the he did teach in a cave on the Mount of Olives.

The first church to be built on this site was commissioned by Constantine in 330, and that church suffered heavy damage in 614 at the hands of the Persians. The Crusaders built a small oratory, or place of worship that is not intended for the public, on the site amid the rubble in 1106. That location was badly damaged in 1187 and finally left to ruin in 1345. In 1874 reconstruction was begun and still remains unfinished.

The rebuild was the work of the Princess de al Tour ‘dAuvergne. She loved the Lord’s Prayer and had it added to several of the tile plaques there. She was very sure the cave existed, but it was not found before her death. Her remains now rest at the Pater Noster Church in the tomb.

There are, however, still lots to see at the church, including 62 exquisitely tiled plaques that have the Lord’s Prayer written in 62 different languages. Even though just partially rebuilt, the original size of the church has been maintained. There are steps leading into the grotto where the teachings were said to have occurred. Sadly, very little of the original stone work still remain. There is also a garden that stands outside the three doors that give an accurate idea of how large the atrium was.

There are no entrance fees to see the Church, hours are M-Sat: 8:30-11:45; 3-5. It is closed on Sunday.

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is a beautiful Russian Orthodox house of worship in Jerusalem. It is located on the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and was built in 1886 under the direction of Tsar Alexander III. He built the church to honor his mother, and dedicated it to Mary Magdalene.

The church is built in classic 17th century Russian style and has seven onion domes that are gilded. They are quite impressive. The building is easily visible from points around Jerusalem; however, it really deserves a stop while visiting the city. Inside the church are several murals that depict the life of Mary Magdalene. Also in the church is an icon of the Mother of God. There have been miracle healings attributed to this place.

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is the resting place for Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia who was martyred along with another nun during the Russian Revolution in 1917. Also buried here is Princess Alice of Battenberg who was also known as Princess Andrew of Greece. She was responsible for harboring Jews when the Nazis occupied her country, in order to help keep them alive. She is also the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Visiting the Church is free; the hours are Tuesday and Thursday 10-12.

St. Anne’s Church sits next to the Bethesda Pool by the Lion’s Gate in Jerusalem. As with most structures in the city, the history of the location is fascinating. St. Anne’s is a great example of a 12th century Crusader house of worship. Although there have been several different uses of the property over the centuries, most of the original building is still there. Restoration was done in the 19th century and the structure itself retained its rather severe appearance.

The Church was built in 1131-1133 over the presumed site where Mary’s mother Anne gave birth to her. St. Anne’s replaced a destroyed Byzantine worship center over the same site. One of the interesting facts about this place is its asymmetry. As you visit, be sure to notice the asymmetrical style, count the steps on one side and compare them to the other side.

Another fact about St. Anne’s is the incredible acoustics of the building. It was built to accommodate Gregorian chants. Today anyone can come and sing here, the only stipulation is the song must be religious. Music from any religion is welcomed here. The reverberations are just perfect for tenor or soprano solo voices.

St. Anne’s Church is almost at the beginning of the Via Dolorosa, so if you are planning on taking that walk, come early enough to enjoy this place. The hours are Monday-Saturday 8-noon and then 2-5, closed on Sunday. There is a small fee (around $2.50) to enter the church, but it is worth the time and money to see. Don’t forget to practice your song first.

The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is located in Old Jerusalem in the NE corner of the Muristan. The east half of this place was given to Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm by Sultan Abdul-Aziz of the Ottoman Empire. This occurred during a visit in 1869. Construction was completed in 1898 and it was the second Protestant worship center to be built in Old Jerusalem.

The building was built over the ruins of the Church of St. Mary of the Latin’s. Some of that old building, such as the cloisters and refectory, were incorporated into this location. There is some speculation that both structures were built on top of an even older holy place.

There are several interesting sites to see here. Be sure to find the sculpture on the medieval northern gate. The doors have signs from the Zodiac on them that are somewhat like those on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The bell tower is open to the public for a small fee. For those who are brave enough to face the hard climb of around 200 steps, the reward at the top of the bell tower is a breath taking view of Jerusalem that extends all the way to the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion.

The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is home to four different language communities, Danish, Arabic, German and English. It is closed on Sundays for services. There are also daily devotions during the week at noon. Hours are Mon-Sat 9-1 and 1:30 to 5.

Dormition Abbey is built upon the site that traditionally is thought to be where the Blessed Virgin Mary died. It was constructed in the early 1900s as a German Benedictine Abbey on top of Mount Zion, just outside of the city walls at the Zion Gate. It sits atop a Byzantine church that lay in ruins called Hagia-Maria-Scion and sometimes the abbey is known by that name.

The Byzantine Church was built by Christians several hundred years after the death of Jesus. It was destroyed, and several centuries later the Crusaders rebuilt the structure. It was again destroyed, and remained in ruins until the land was bought by Kiser Wilhelm II, who commissioned the building. The Abbey also includes a beautiful large round sanctuary and a large bell tower. The top of the place has rooster on the weather vane to symbolize Peter’s denial of Jesus. This place is called Dormitio Beatae Mariae Virginis or Holy Sleep of the Virgin Mary. It was damaged during the 1948 war, and was restored again after the 6 day war. The name Dormition is an old word that means “falling asleep” or death and the resurrection to heaven.

The inside of the church are six alcoves or small chapels that have incredible mosaic work depicting the life of Mary and Jesus. There is a crypt in the lower level that holds the sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s deathbed. Visitors can light candles at this location. Chapels and alters have been donated from around the world and make the tour of the church just breathtaking.

It is free to get in the Dormition Abbey, Hours vary, so check before going.

The Church of St. Peter in Gallincantu is named for the famous disciple’s rejection of Jesus Christ, as told in Mark 14:30. The term “Gallincantu” is Latin for cock-crow. This place is located outside the Old City of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of Mount Zion. Originally this was the site of a Byzantine shrine that was built in 457. It was sadly destroyed, and a chapel was then built on the site by the Crusaders in 1102. That rebuild was destroyed, and in 1931, the Church was rebuilt as it stands today. Fittingly, a rooster is on the one of the roof peaks. There is some thought that the High Priest Caiaphas may have had his palace here.

The church is in a beautiful spot and the landscape drops off sharply toward the Kidron Valley. Make sure to allow extra time just to wander the grounds and enjoy the spectacular view. You can also find the ruins of many centuries worth of buildings that have been erected in this spot in Jerusalem. In fact, the north side of the building has a model set up to show what the city might have looked like during the Byzantine era. There are a set of steps that may be the original passageway between the upper and lower city. Sculptures and reliefs are around the grounds too that depict scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and also the denial by Peter.

The inside of the church is beautiful with several mosaics and paintings. There is a lower level that also has a chapel and a series of caves. There is some evidence that these were once part of a Byzantine shrine. Traditionally, it is thought to be where Jesus was held after His arrest. However, these types of cavernous structures were normal in the houses of the period. So while he may have been held here, it is not certain.

Admission into St. Peter in Gallincantu is free.

St. Andrew’s Church of Scotland was built on a hill southwest of the Mount of Olives. It was built as a memorial to the Scottish soldiers who fought and died in this area during World War I. The money for the church was raised throughout Britain for the project, and it is part of the official religious institution for the country. There used to be a fair number of Scotts living in the area, but that changed after the 6 Day War. There are still signs of the shelling the building took during that battle. The guest house here can be reserved for visitors on their website.

The name Andrew commemorates the patron Saint of Scotland. He was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. King Robert the Bruce (1306-1329) wanted his heart to be buried in Jerusalem. Unfortunately that was not to be, but there is a small plaque commemorating the famous Scotsman.

This area used to be a Necropolis. There are ancient tombs here that date back to 1000 B.C. The building looks like it could have been a Scottish castle. Below the Church is an area that used was used as a Scottish hospital. It now houses craftsmen of Jerusalem and is called the House of Quality.

While visiting the Church, be sure to take a look at all the Armenian blue ceramics. They are found in various fountains, as well as under the stairwell. The blues are just breathtakingly beautiful. Mosaic ceramics and tile work are also found throughout the place. One more interesting fact, the hill the sanctuary is located on is the water divide. The rain that falls on the western side of the area goes to the Mediterranean Sea; water on the eastern side goes into the Dead Sea.