Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem

In the 1880s, Tsar Alexander III had this Russian Orthodox church raised in memory of his mother, Empress Maria Alexandrovna (known before her marriage as Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine) who died before his second birthday. Set amid trees, its seven gilded onion domes, each topped by a tall golden cross, are among the most striking features of the skyline seen from the Old City. These and other architectural features are in 16th- to 17th-century Muscovite style. The interior has several murals that depict the life of Mary Magdalene, the first recorded witness of Christ's resurrection.

Completely in harmony with the entourage, St. Mary Magdalene's is a striking contrast to others in Jerusalem and is worth looking out for when scanning the Mount of Olives. To this day it is the final resting place for Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia who was martyred along with her fellow nun, Varvara Yakovleva, during the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. Also buried here is Princess Alice of Battenberg, responsible for harboring Jews when the Nazis occupied her country, in order to help keep them alive.

Opening Hours:
Tue, Thu: 10am-12pm

Image by someone10x on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.

This sight is featured in a self-guided walking tour of Jerusalem, Israel within the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded from iTunes App Store or Google Play. Please download the app to your mobile phone or tablet for travel directions for visiting this sight. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Jerusalem

Sight Name: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
Sight Location: Jerusalem, Israel
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Mount of Olives Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Jerusalem, Israel

Create Your Own Walk in Jerusalem

Creating your own self-guided walk in Jerusalem is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Mount of Olives Walking Tour

Aside from affording great views over the Old City, the Mount of Olives is home to half a dozen major sites of the Christian faith along with the oldest Jewish burial ground in the world. Considered a holy spot by many, it is associated with numerous events in Jesus' life including ascending to Heaven and teaching his disciples the Lord's prayer. The following self-guided tour will lead... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles

Mount Zion Walking Tour

For those interested in religion and history, Mount Zion offers several unique sights that are situated in close proximity to each other. An important place for Christians, Jews as well as Muslims, it holds important constructions dating from the 20th century as well as the compound built by the Crusaders, marking the spot of King David's tomb as well as of the Room of the Last Supper.

In... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

Following Steps of Jesus Walking Tour

Considered for centuries to be the center of the universe, Jerusalem is where the most famous figure in the history of mankind, Jesus of Nazareth, fulfilled his divine mission. This self-guided tour will retrace the steps of Jesus, allowing you to see what many consider some of the holiest places on our planet.

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles

Jerusalem City Gates Walking Tour

The Old City of Jerusalem is indeed very old; probably came into being more than 4,500 years ago. The defensive wall around the city, built by Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, features a number of gates, just as ancient, each of which is an attraction in its own right. Prophesies about some of these gates are written in the Bible and the Koran. This self-guided tour... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles

Christian Quarter Walking Tour

One of the epicenters of worldwide Christianity, the Christian Quarter is the second-largest of the four ancient quarters of Jerusalem's Old City. It covers the northwestern part of the Old City, just beyond Jaffa Gate – the traditional pilgrim's entrance to Jerusalem, and is a prime destination for most visitors to Jerusalem.

A tangle of broad streets and winding, narrow alleys,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles

Mount Scopus Walking Tour

Mount Scopus translates as the "Observation Mount" from Greek. It is a great place to see the whole Old City of Jerusalem with many of its sightseeing places. Its most visited landmarks are the Hebrew University campus with its botanical garden and amphitheater, the War Cemetery and a few places of worship. Follow this self-guided walk to have a great time in this magical place!

Tip:
... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

View all walking tours in Jerusalem, Israel

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

16 Uniquely Israel Things to Buy in Jerusalem

Modern day Jerusalem is a mosaic of neighborhoods, reflecting different historical periods, cultures, and religions. The influx of repatriates in recent years has made the cultural and artisanal scene of the city even more colourful and diverse. To find your way through Jerusalem's intricate...