History Church_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist,_Jerusalem

1 history

1.1 byzantine period
1.2 medieval period
1.3 ottoman period

history
byzantine period

the first structure, north-south oriented trefoil building, built sometime in 4th-6th century , served unknown purposes. damaged @ persian conquest of jerusalem in 614 , extensively modified. source can interpreted mean restored during 7th century john almoner, patriarch of alexandria.

medieval period

by 11th century ancient structure had sunk @ least 3 metres beneath street level, doors , windows blocked, , served storage place goods , water. during century, organisation of amalfitan merchants settled in jerusalem , acquired south-west corner of hadrianic forum, established pilgrim hospice, complete hospital , church. new church erected above ancient structure, became basement , dictated tri-apsed layout of entire church. church tended benedictine monks. in 1099, crusader knights injured during siege of jerusalem treated @ hospital , after recovering started here become order of knights of hospital of saint john of jerusalem, named after church, known knights hospitaller. after capture of jerusalem saladin in 1187, basement apparently filled debris.

ottoman period

at end of 15th century, greek orthodox patriarchate of jerusalem acquired church , transformed basement chapel, according excavator, jean-baptiste humbert of École biblique, might constitute first time structure used cultic purpose. during 16th century church used short period mosque, recovered greek orthodox, in 1660 build large pilgrim hospice next it. in 19th century crypt cleared out, , impressive reliquary brought light masonry of altar.