Jerusalem (Mount of Olives) - Cave of Gethsemane

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Jerusalem (Mount of Olives)

Identification:

Place identified by some ancient pilgrims and modern scholars as the site of betrayal and arrest of Christ. Some are mentioning that it may have had a garden surrounding it that was likewise identified as the place of arrest (see under Literary Sources).

Church name:

Cave of Gethsemane

Dedication:

Commemorates the site of arrest of Christ?

Functional Type:

Funerary chapel

Church type:

Cave church

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

172,854.00

1,131,863.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

222,870.00

631,864.00

Location:

Para-urban

Geographical region:

Jerusalem Mount of Olives

Topographical location:

Ca. 100m north of the Church of Agony; Accessed from the courtyard of the Church of Assumption (Virgin Mary Tomb).

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Source of knowledge

Show HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Mention of the rock in the Valley of Jehoshaphat where Judas betrayed Christ, from an itinerary of ca. AD 333.
2	Holy Thursday at Gethsemane in the place downhill relating to the arrest of Christ, from an itinerary of AD 381-384.
3	Mention of the places of betrayal and supper among the sacred sites on Mount Olivet, from a pilgrim's guide to Jerusalem from the beginning of the 6th cent.
4	Description of the four couches of the supper at the Valley of Jehoshaphat, from an itinerary of ca. AD 518-530.
5	Mention of the place of betrayal and of the three couches of the supper in the Valley of Gethsemane / Jehoshaphat, from an itinerary of ca. AD 570.
6	Description of the cave in the Valley of Jehoshaphat containing four rock tables on which the Lord suppered, from an itinerary of ca. AD 681-684, composed ca. 698.
7	Mention of the garden where Christ was betrayed in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, from an 8th cent. guidebook for pilgrims.
8	Mention of the church in the the Valley of Jehoshaphat at the place of betrayal, containing the four round tables of the supper, from an itinerary of ca. AD 867-870.
9	Mention of the cave and church of arrest in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, from a guidebook compiled AD 1137.

Show HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Graffito for the memory of Pasimus(?), on the vault of the cave.
2	Small fragment of white marble with remains of inscription.
3	Small fragment of grey marble with remains of inscription.
4	Funerary inscription of the deacons(?) of the Anastasis, found in secondary use in the pavement of the courtyard of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary (CIIP 977), possibly originating from the Cave of Gethsemane ― see under Jerusalem (Kidron Valley) - Tomb of the Virgin Mary / Assumption.
5	Fragmentary mosaic inscription with an invocation of the Lord, covering two tombs at the entrance to the cave.
6	Graffito for the memory of Samuel, on the vault of the cave.

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Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Corbo	Oct. 1956 - March 1957

Bibliograpy:

Vincent, L. H. and Abel, F. M., 1914-1926	335-337
Corbo, V. C., 1965	1-96
Storme, A., 1972	75-85

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

An oil press with a water cistern converted to a funarary chapel.

The cave, of irregular shape, are 19x10m in dimensions (maximal). Originally it was entered from the north. Latter a new opening was installed on the west, permitting direct access from the courtyard of the Church of Assumption (Virgin Mary Tomb). The remains of an oil press can be recognized in an eastern recess where an altar is presently located. Three rock pillars support the roof of the cave on its southern side. It had a lighting opening in its roof. It was paved in white mosaics, damaged by 42 tombs cut below. The graves date to the 5th-8th c. and it was used also under the Crusaders. Some fragment of screen plates were uncovered, as well as funerary inscriptions and many graffiti.

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Illustrative material: