Dominus Flevit Church

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View through the window of the church

Located on the Mount of Olives immediately facing the Old City of Jerusalem, the sanctuary church of Dominus Flevit, which translates from Latin as "The Lord Wept", was fashioned in the shape of a teardrop. Here, according to the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus, while walking toward the city, becomes overwhelmed by the beauty of the Second Temple and, predicting its future destruction, weeps openly. Luke 19, 37-42.

One of the newest churches in Jerusalem, Dominus Flevit sits atop an ancient site. During construction of the sanctuary archeologists uncovered artifacts dating back to the Canaanite period, as well as tombs from both the Second Temple and Byzantine eras. Also unearthed was a 7th century Byzantine shrine, of which some mosaics remain.

The church is currenly held in trust by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.

[edit] Construction

The modern sanctuary was designed by Antonio Barluzzi for the Franciscan order between 1953 and 1955.

Barluzzi, the architect of several shrines and sanctuaries built during the first half of the 20th century is also known for some other works in Jerusalem, such as the Basilica of the Agony at Gethsemane, the Church of the Visitation in Ein Kerem, and the Church of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa. St. Lazarus in Bethany, is another example of Barluzzi’s design.