Church of All Nations, Minor basilica in Gethsemane, Israel
The Church of All Nations is a Catholic minor basilica in Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Its roof features twelve shallow domes, and the alabaster windows tint incoming daylight in shades of violet and blue.
The present basilica rests on the foundations of two earlier buildings: a 4th-century Byzantine basilica destroyed by an earthquake in 746, and a 12th-century Crusader chapel abandoned in 1345. In 1920, while foundations were being laid, a column was found two metres below the floor of the Crusader chapel, along with fragments of a mosaic. Excavation of the Byzantine church followed, and the new basilica, designed by Antonio Barluzzi, was built from 19 April 1922 and consecrated in June 1924.
The name comes from the twelve countries whose donations paid for the building, and their coats of arms appear in the ceiling domes and interior mosaics. An open altar in the garden is used by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, Protestant, Lutheran, Evangelical and Anglican communities. The apses hold mosaics given by Ireland, Hungary and Poland, and Australia donated the crown around the bedrock.
The basilica opens in the morning and reopens in the afternoon, with shorter hours in winter. Mass is held regularly, and visitors should dress modestly and remain quiet during services.
Glass panels in the floor protect sections of a Byzantine mosaic from the fourth century. The alabaster windows reduce incoming light so much that the interior feels dim even at midday.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,605 contributors worldwide.
