Cathedral of the Holy Trinity / Russian Compound, Jerusalem

In the 19th century, the Russians were among the earliest settlers outside Jerusalem's Old City. This migration commenced around 1860, with the acquisition of a few acres of land just beyond the city walls. Constructing a self-contained compound, they aimed to accommodate the increasing number of Russian pilgrims visiting the city. Central to this compound was the handsome Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, consecrated in 1864, featuring a distinctive Muscovite architectural style characterized by eight drums topped with green domes.

Adjacent to the cathedral lies Herod’s Column, a towering stone pillar measuring 12 meters (40 feet) in height. Historians speculate that it dates back to the Byzantine period or may have been intended for the Second Temple before being abandoned due to a crack.

Today, only the cathedral remains under Russian ownership, as many other buildings within the compound were sold to the Israeli government by the Soviet Union in 1964, in exchange for shipments of Israeli oranges. Notably, the grand building with the crenellated tower, formerly a pilgrims’ hostel, now houses the Agriculture Ministry. The street where it stands, Heleni ha-Malka, has evolved into one of the city's nightlife hubs, filled with numerous bars and cafes.

Behind the cathedral, the former women’s hostel has been repurposed into the Underground Prisoners’ Museum 1917–48, dedicated to Jewish underground movements. During the British Mandate period, some members of these movements were incarcerated in this very location.