Chapel of the Ascension, Jerusalem

The Chapel of the Ascension is part of a larger complex with a rich history, transitioning from a Christian church and monastery to an Islamic mosque. Tradition holds that this site marks the spot where Jesus "was carried up into heaven" forty days after his resurrection, leaving behind a footprint on the rock inside the octagonal shrine.

Before Emperor Constantine's conversion to the faith, early Christians commemorated Christ's ascension in a cave on the Mount of Olives, likely used for worship gatherings due to its safety. Around 390, a chapel was built here by Poimenia, a prominent Roman woman; however, the current building was constructed by the Crusaders and later converted into a mosque by Salah ad-Din in 1198, with a mihrab pointing towards Mecca (in the south wall) added shortly after. The presence of a mosque on the site is not as bizarre as it might seem, considering that Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet.

The adjacent tiny burial crypt is revered by adherents of all three Abrahamic religions: Jews believe it holds the prophetess Huldah from the 7th century BCE, Christians associate it with the 5th-century saint Pelagia the Harlot (or Penitent), and Muslims attribute it to the 8th-century Sufi mystic Rabi'a al-Adawiyya. What is certain is that the Christian tradition of Saint Pelagia is the oldest.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Jerusalem. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Chapel of the Ascension
Sight Location: Jerusalem, Israel (See walking tours in Jerusalem)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Christian Quarter Walking Tour

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

Muslim Quarter & Temple Mount Tour

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Some of the city鈥檚 most interesting city gates (Damascus and... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Jerusalem Old City Walking Tour

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, the Old City of Jerusalem is best explored on foot, since its narrow streets and alleys make it almost an entirely vehicle-free zone. In addition to hosting four ethnic quarters, 鈥� Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian 鈥� it is packed with major historical and religious sites, which all make a trip here unique, unforgettable and not to be missed.

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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles

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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 a compound built by the Crusaders that marks the spot of both King David鈥檚 tomb and the Room of the Last Supper. How... view more

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

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鈥� life including ascending to Heaven and teaching his disciples the Lord鈥檚 Prayer.

The following self-guided walking tour will... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

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