The Russian Orthodox Convent
of the Ascension is located in the village of A-Tur on the Mount of Olives.
The convent is open to the public on limited hours or for organized
groups. The place is inhabited by Nuns.
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| Mount of Olives is the one on the left. |
According
to Orthodox tradition it is the site where Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days
after the resurrection.
The Russian Orthodox convent and church were built in 1870-1887.
A 64 meter high bell tower was designed to symbolize the ascension to
heaven. It added a remarkable landmark in the Jerusalem's skyline. It was the first Christian bell to operate in
Jerusalem.
A
chapel behind the church is dedicated to John the Baptist.
On the site of the convent were two 5th Century Armenian
churches. One of them was named after John the Baptist. According to tradition his head was found in a jar hidden in a
cavity under its floor. Mosaic floors were uncovered during the construction of the
convent, and embedded in the
chapel's floor.
The mosaic include geometric patterns and depicts Holy Land fruits, birds and animals.
An Armenian inscription dedicates it to bishop Jacob who built it.
Embedded in this mosaic floor is a deep cavity, seen in the photo below.
This hole is sacred, since
according to the tradition it was the place where the head of John
the Baptist was found in a jar, hidden by one of his followers in
the 1st C, and rediscovered in the 5th C.
I
am a modern mosaic artist with a deep admiration for ancient Greek,
Roman and Byzantine Arts. You can see some of my own mosaics on my
site mosaicblues.
If you are interested by this project or by my work in general
or
if you would simply like to drop me a line, please
contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com
or by phone at (334) 798 1639.
You can also
to receive regular updates on my work
and my other projects.
