Gorny Monastery

Gorny Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox complex in Jerusalem that rises across multiple terraced levels with five golden-domed buildings crowning the hillside. The grounds feature various structures including chapels and cave churches distributed across the sloped terrain.

The monastery was founded in 1871 when Archimandrite Antonin Kapustin acquired the land from the French consulate for the Russian Orthodox Church. This establishment marked part of a broader Russian ecclesiastical expansion in the Holy Land during the 1800s.

Orthodox nuns living here maintain Russian ecclesiastical traditions through daily prayer services and religious ceremonies. Visitors can observe how these practices shape the rhythm of daily life within the complex.

The monastery can be entered through two gates: one from the village of Ein Kerem and another near Hadassah Hospital. Walking through the grounds works best since the different levels are connected by stairs and pathways.

A cave church sanctified in 1987 sits within the monastery grounds and is believed in Russian Orthodox tradition to have sheltered John the Baptist. This underground chapel remains an overlooked spot that draws those seeking quiet contemplation.

Location: Jerusalem

GPS coordinates: 31.76372,35.15764

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:49