Christian Sites in Jerusalem Every Catholic Needs to See
I recently had the incredible opportunity to embark on a 7-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a journey that was not only profoundly spiritual but deeply personal. My trip, which took place in the context of the solemn consecration of the Chapel of Croatian Saints and the Croatian Blessed on Shepherds’ Fields in Bethlehem, marked a significant moment for Croatian Catholics. This consecration, which occurred on March 1, 2025, was a historic occasion that brought together Catholics from Croatia and around the world. I had the privilege of making this pilgrimage with my father and about 250 fellow Croatians.
Although this wasn’t my first time visiting the Holy Land (Israel and Palestine), this pilgrimage felt particularly special. The streets of Jerusalem, the silence of the sacred places, and the feeling of being so close to the life of Jesus Christ brought an overwhelming sense of peace and awe. If you’re planning your own pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or if you’re simply curious about these Christian sacred places, I want to share the Christian sites in Jerusalem that every Catholic needs to visit. These sites aren’t just historical landmarks; they’re places where we can connect with the deep, living faith of Christianity.
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15 Christian Sites in Jerusalem Every Catholic Must Visit
Here is a list of the most important Christian holy sites in Jerusalem:
1. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (with Calvary and the Tomb of Jesus)
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the holiest site in Christianity, built over the places of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Historically, Emperor Constantine commissioned its construction in the 4th century, following his mother, Helena’s discovery of the True Cross. The church has been a site of pilgrimage for Christians for nearly 1,700 years. Inside, you’ll find Calvary (Golgotha), the hill where Jesus was crucified, and the Tomb of Jesus, where He was laid to rest and later resurrected.
One of the most powerful experiences of my pilgrimage was visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest Christian site in the world. Standing in front of the tomb where Christ’s body was laid to rest before His glorious resurrection commended a moment of deep reflection and prayer.
The church stands as a powerful symbol of the redemption of humanity, where death was defeated through the resurrection.
Biblical reference:
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’” (John 19:30-42).
“So as evening approached Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:40-47)
2. Via Dolorosa: The Way of the Cross
The Via Dolorosa (Latin for “Way of Suffering”) is a path through the Old City of Jerusalem that commemorates the route Jesus took as He carried His cross to His crucifixion. Pilgrims have walked this path for centuries, following the Stations of the Cross that lead to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This route became the center of Christian devotion by the 4th century, following the construction of the first church on the site of the crucifixion. As you walk, you can reflect on the 14 events that make up the Stations of the Cross.
Walking the Via Dolorosa, or “Way of Suffering,” was one of the most moving experiences of my trip.
The Via Dolorosa allows pilgrims to retrace the final, agonizing steps of Christ’s journey to His sacrifice.
Biblical reference: Luke 23:27-31, John 19:16-17.
“Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).” (John 19:16-17)
3. Chapel of the Flagellation
The Chapel of the Flagellation marks the place where Jesus was scourged by Roman soldiers before His condemnation. The chapel is located on the Via Dolorosa, and its history dates back to the Crusader period, though it was later rebuilt in the 19th century. Here, we remember the brutal beating Jesus endured, a prelude to His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
Here, I found a quiet space for prayer and reflection on the physical pain Christ endured for humanity’s sins.
This site is a stark reminder of the suffering Jesus willingly endured for humanity’s salvation.
Biblical reference:
“Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:26)
4. Chapel of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross
The Chapel of the Condemnation commemorates the moment when Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate. The Imposition of the Cross refers to the moment when the soldiers placed the heavy wooden cross on Jesus’ shoulders. Both of these events are marked here, and the chapel has been a focal point for Christian pilgrims for centuries, tracing its significance back to the 4th century.
This chapel captures the profound humiliation and obedience of Christ to the will of the Father, leading to His ultimate sacrifice.
Biblical reference:
“After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means ‘the place of the skull’). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.” (Matthew 27:31-34)
5. Ecce Homo Arch
The Ecce Homo Arch is located near the traditional site where Pilate presented Jesus to the crowds, saying, “Ecce Homo” (“Behold the Man!”). The arch itself dates back to the Roman period, built around the time of Pilate’s trial of Jesus. It’s a poignant reminder of the moment when Jesus was mocked and rejected by His own people, before the final events of His passion.
Here, we stand in the place where Jesus was publicly presented to the crowd in His state of humiliation, showing the depths of His suffering.
Biblical reference:
“When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify! Crucify!’ But Pilate answered, ‘You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.’” (John 19:5-6)
6. Church of St. Anne
The Church of St. Anne is a beautiful Crusader-era church, built near the Pools of Bethesda. The church is dedicated to the mother of the Virgin Mary, Saint Anne, and is thought to be the location of her birth. Its acoustics are legendary, and the church is a place of peaceful reflection. Pilgrims often sing hymns here, as the church’s stunning acoustics create a heavenly atmosphere.
This site reminds us of Mary’s lineage and the holy family from which Jesus came, providing a deep sense of connection to the roots of the faith.
Biblical reference:
“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-55 – The Magnificat).
7. Pools of Bethesda
The Pools of Bethesda are famous for the miraculous healing of a paralyzed man by Jesus, as described in the Gospel of John. These pools, which date back to the 1st century, were believed to have healing powers, and it was here that the sick would gather in hopes of being healed. This is believed to be the spot where the healing took place.
Here, I reflected on the power of Christ’s healing and His compassion for those suffering.
Visiting the Pools of Bethesda allows pilgrims to meditate on Jesus’ power to heal and His care for the sick and suffering.
Biblical reference:
“Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath.” (John 5:1-9)
8. Last Supper Room
The Last Supper Room, also known as the Cenacle, is located on Mount Zion and is the traditional site of the Upper Room. It is here that Jesus instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper. The room is also significant because it is believed to be the place where the apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Standing in this room, I felt especially connected to the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which is the source and summit of Catholic life.
The Last Supper marks the institution of the Eucharist, a central element of Catholic worship, and serves as a profound reminder of Christ’s self-giving love.
Biblical reference:
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke 22:19-20)
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’” (Matthew 26:26-29)
9. Church of the Dormition
The Church of the Dormition stands on Mount Zion and commemorates the death of the Virgin Mary. Catholics believe that Mary was assumed into heaven after her death, and this church celebrates her “falling asleep.” The church was originally built in the 5th century, though the current structure dates from the 12th century.
Here, I was particularly moved by the statue of Saint Jerome, a great Church Father who is from Dalmatia, a region now part of Croatia where I was born and raised. This connection felt personal and humbling.
However, above all, the church calls us to reflect on Mary’s role as the Mother of the Church and her unique grace in God’s plan of salvation.
Biblical reference:
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.” (Revelation 12:1-2)
10. Church of St Peter Gallicantum
The Church of St. Peter Gallicantum is located near the site where Peter famously denied Jesus three times. This church, with its rich mosaic decorations, is built upon the ancient prison of St. Peter, where it is believed that the apostle was held after his denial and before his restoration by Christ. The church’s history stretches back to the Crusader era, and it has long been a site of devotion and prayer for pilgrims.
Here I spent time in quiet reflection, thinking about the grace of God in restoring Peter after his betrayal.
This church offers pilgrims an opportunity to meditate on forgiveness and the grace of restoration after failure.
Biblical reference:
“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62)
11. Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is where many significant events in the life of Jesus took place, including His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His teachings, and His ascension into heaven. Pilgrims have visited this mountain for centuries, and it offers a panoramic view of the Old City. The mountain is home to several important churches, including the Church of All Nations and Dominus Flevit.
The Mount of Olives is where Jesus prayed in anguish before His crucifixion and later ascended into heaven. It’s a place of great spiritual depth.
Biblical reference:
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’” (Matthew 26:36-46)
“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.” (Mark 14:32-42)
12. Gethsemane and Church of All Nations
The Garden of Gethsemane is one of the most sacred places in Jerusalem. It is where Jesus prayed in great agony before His arrest, asking the Father if it was possible to avoid the suffering that lay ahead. The Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of Agony, stands here, marking the spot where Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me.”
Visiting Gethsemane calls pilgrims to reflect on Jesus’ obedience to the Father and His willingness to bear the weight of humanity’s sin.
Seeing the Gethsemane garden plate which describes the contribution of Croatian knights in the 17th century to granting the Gethsemane gardens to Franciscan friars in the Holy Land felt particularly intimate to me coming from Croatia. The plate shows also a long connection between the Croatian people and the Holy Land.
Biblical reference:
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:39-46)
13. Tomb of the Virgin Mary
The Tomb of the Virgin Mary lies in a crypt in the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Mary beneath the Mount of Olives. It is said to be the place where Mary’s body was laid to rest before her Assumption into heaven. The site has been venerated for centuries, with the first church on the site dating back to the 5th century.
This tomb, while empty, is a profound reminder of the Virgin Mary’s role in salvation. Visiting this site invites us to honor Mary’s holiness and her role as the Mother of the Church.
The tomb is a sacred place where Christians honor Mary’s holiness and her unique role in salvation history.
Biblical reference:
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” (Revelation 12:1-6)
14. Dominus Flevit Church (The Lord Wept)
The Dominus Flevit Church is located on the slopes of the Mount of Olives and commemorates the moment when Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, lamenting its rejection of Him. The church’s design mimics a teardrop, symbolizing Christ’s sorrow. This site has been a place of contemplation for centuries, inviting pilgrims to reflect on God’s grief over the rejection of His love.
From this spot, you can look out over the city and reflect on Jesus’ sorrow for the fate of Jerusalem.
This church invites us to reflect on Jesus’ compassion and His desire for the salvation of all people.
Biblical reference:
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, and the children within your walls will be left and not one stone will be left on another because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.’” (Luke 19:41-44)
15. Pater Noster Church
The Pater Noster Church is located on the Mount of Olives and is dedicated to the Our Father prayer. It marks the place where Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. The church is decorated with the Lord’s Prayer in numerous languages, a testament to the universality of Christ’s message.
Here, pilgrims are reminded of the centrality of prayer in the Christian life and the deep relationship we are called to have with God the Father.
Biblical reference:
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)
A Bonus for Croatian Catholics: Monastery of St. Francis ad Coenaculum
The Monastery of St. Francis ad Coenaculum is located near the Last Supper Room and is home to the Statue of St. Nikola Tavelić, a Croatian Franciscan who was martyred for his missionary work. This monastery is an important site for those with Croatian roots and for all Catholics who honor the missionary spirit.
This site reflects the call to spread the Good News, just as St. Nikola Tavelić did, and it inspires us to live out our faith with courage and devotion.
Biblical reference:
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:16-20)
Map of the Most Important Christian Sites in Jerusalem for Catholics
Final Thoughts on Visting the Christian Sites in Jerusalem
Visiting these sacred sites in Jerusalem is a transformative experience for any Catholic. Each place invites us to draw closer to Christ and deepen our understanding of His life, death, and resurrection. I encourage all Catholics, especially those with a deep devotion to the Holy Land, to make this pilgrimage, whether for the first time or as a return to renew your faith.
Where to Stay in Jerusalem
Choosing the right place to stay in Jerusalem depends on your preferences for proximity to holy sites, atmosphere, and budget. Consider staying near the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Recommended Hotels:
The Notre Dame Center: A Catholic guesthouse run by the Vatican, located just a short walk from the Old City. It’s peaceful, with a rooftop offering stunning views of Jerusalem.
The American Colony Hotel: A luxurious option with Christian roots, offering a blend of modern amenities and historical charm. Though not in the Christian Quarter, it’s a short distance to the Old City.
St. George’s Cathedral Guest House: Situated near the Cathedral of St. George, this guesthouse offers simple accommodations with a Christian atmosphere.
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