Cathedral of Saint James, Jerusalem
The Cathedral of Saint James (Armenian: Սրբոց Յակոբեանց Վանք Հայոց, Hebrew: קתדרלת יעקב הקדוש, Arabic: كتدرائية القديس جيمس, or Saint Jacob's Armenian Cathedral) is a 12th-century Armenian church in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, near the quarter's entry Zion Gate. The cathedral is dedicated to two of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus: James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater) and James the brother of Jesus (James the Just).[1] It is located near the Church of the Holy Archangels.
Cathedral of Saint James Սրբոց Յակոբեանց Վանք Հայոց קתדרלת יעקב הקדוש | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Armenian Quarter, Jerusalem |
Geographic coordinates | 31°46′28″N 35°13′44″E |
Architecture | |
Type | Domed basilica |
Style | Armenian |
Completed | 12th century |
It is the principal church of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, also known as the Armenian Patriarchate of Saint James.
In 1162, it was described as complete by John of Würzburg which Nurith Kenaan-Kedar uses to argue that it was built during the reign of Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem.[2]
Ornamentation
The ceiling is decorated hanging ceramic eggs made in Kütahya.[3] More ceramics from Kütahya appear in the form of tiles in the Chapel of Etchmiadzin.[3] Originally destined for a 1719 attempt to repair the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, they ended up in the Cathedral of Saint James after the plan fell through.[3]
Gallery
- The entry gate to the Armenian Quarter
- Entrance of the Cathedral
- Closeup of metalwork at the entrance
- Arches and dome from the inside
- Another view of the interior
- Epitaph and mural at the tomb of Patriarch Abraham, since 1192
- Altar in Cathedral of St. James (1996)
- St James Cathedral 1948
- A khachkar
- Another khachkar
- An Amenaprkitch-style khachkar
References
- "St. James Cathedral". The Jerusalem Post. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- Kenaan-Kedar, Nurith (2015). "DECORATIVE ARCHITECTURAL SCULPTURE IN CRUSADER JERUSALEM: THE EASTERN, WESTERN, AND ARMENIAN SOURCES OF A LOCAL VISUAL CULTURE". In J. Boas, Adrian (ed.). The Crusader World. London: Routledge. p. 610.
- Maranci, Christina (2018). The Art of Armenia: An Introduction. Oxford University Press. pp. 187–188. ISBN 978-0190269005.
Bibliography
Further reading
- Antonius, G.; Nomico, Ch. A. (1924). "A Brief Account of the Painted tile Work in the Armenian Cathedral of St James". Jerusalem 1920-1922. London: 57–60.
- Pringle, D. (2007). The Churches of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: The city of Jerusalem. Vol. III. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-39038-5. (Pringle, 2007, pp. 168-182)