Chapel of the Ascension
Mount of Olives, At-Tur, Jerusalem, ISR
Located at the peak of the Mount of Olives, this panoramic landmark commemorates the spot where Christians believe that Jesus ascended to heaven after his death. The star attraction is an imprint in a stone slab considered to be the footprint of Jesus. The site also contains a centuries-old mosque built after the Crusader era and is regularly visited by pilgrims and tourists.
The Chapel of the Ascension is a sacred site for Christians and Muslims. The original structure dates back to the 4th century, built in a Romanesque style around the rock thought to bear Jesus’s imprint. Like many Christian landmarks within the Old City, it is under the control of a waqf, or Islamic order, which welcomes all faiths to visit. Many private or shared tours of Jerusalem include a stop at the chapel, especially Christian-themed excursions.
While all visitors are welcome, there is a small entry fee for non-Muslims to enter the shrine. Make sure to have cash in hand.
The chapel has had a tumultuous history: the original Byzantine-era Christian church was destroyed by Persian invaders, rebuilt by Crusaders, then converted to a mosque in the 12th century. The building is still officially considered a mosque, although it does double duty as a chapel.
Why is there only one footprint? Only the imprint believed to belong to Jesus’s right foot remains. The left footprint was removed and taken during the Middle Ages to Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, as Muslims also believe in Jesus’s miraculous ascension.
The Chapel of the Ascension is located in At-Tur, a Palestinian-majority neighborhood in East Jerusalem on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. It is about a 15-minute walk from Lion’s Gate, the closest entry point to the walled Old City—although be prepared for a steep climb. You can also take a taxi. If you’re taking part in a guided tour, hotel transfers may be provided.
The Chapel of the Ascension has no regular business hours, but it can typically be accessed during the morning—during quieter times of the year, you may need to find someone to let you in. Each year, 39 days after Easter, Ascension Day is observed. During that time, worshippers are free to visit the chapel without paying the standard entry fee.
Less than 15 minutes by foot toward the base of the Mount of Olives, this church and crypt are believed by Christians to contain the final resting place of Mary, Jesus’s mother—except the tomb is empty. Legend has it that her body disappeared as she ascended to heaven, an event known by Christians as the Assumption. Visitors can reach the rock-cut burial place by staircase.
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