Dormition Abbey

Dormition Abbey Review

The round, black-domed Roman Catholic church, with its distinctive ornamented turrets and landmark clock tower, is a Jerusalem landmark. It was built on land given by the Turkish sultan to the German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, when the latter visited Jerusalem in 1898. The German Benedictines dedicated the echoing main church, with its Byzantine-style apse and mosaic floors, in 1910. The lower-level crypt houses a cenotaph with a carved-stone figure of Mary in repose (dormitio), reflecting the tradition that she fell into eternal sleep. Among the adjacent little chapels is one donated by the Ivory Coast, with wooden figures and motifs inlaid with ivory. The premises include a bookstore and a coffee shop. A visit takes about 20 minutes.