Franciscan "Terra Santa" Monastery, Jerusalem
St. Francis convent is located on the south side of the Zion Gate, outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem.
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Contents:
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Overview:
The Franciscans hold a convent (Monastery) in Mount Zion, near the Zion Gate outside the walls of the old city. The Franciscan order has been entrusted by the pope with the upkeep of the Holy Land Christian shrines since the 14th C.
History :
The Franciscan order was established by Saint Francis, an Italian who lived in the late 12th C. The Franciscans presence in the Holy Land started in the early 13th C, when they resided in a small house in via Dolorosa.
In 1342 Pope Clement VI declared that the Franciscans are the official custodians of the Holy places ("Custodia Terroe Sanctoe"). This custody is still in effect to date.
From 1335 to 1551 the monastery was located in the place of the tomb of Jesus, the traditional location of the last supper. From 1551 until 1560 they resided in a bakery nearby. After then they relocated to another site in the city
(St. Saviour).
Only many years later they returned to Mount Zion. In 1936 the Franciscans bought the bakery building from Dejani family, and transformed it into the present convent of St. Francis.
Location:
The site is located 50M south to Zion gate and 50M east to the Dormition on Mount Zion. It is easily accessed from the parking lot near the Zion gate, but is normally closed to the public.
An aerial map is seen below, with St. Francis convent at the center - on the north side of mount Zion. You can point on the purple points to navigate to the selected point - in this page and other pages.
Photos:
The entrance on the side facing the Zion gate is seen below. The signs read "conventus S. Francisci" (Monastery of St. Francis) and "Custodia Terrae Sanctae" (Custodians of the Holy Land).
Click on the photos to view in higher resolution...
| The seal
above the gate is seen on the right side.
In the center of the seal is the 5 crosses symbol - the Franciscan's symbol. This symbol was the Crusaders sign of Jerusalem, and was adapted by the Franciscans.
Above the five crosses are two hands on both sides of a cross - the symbol of the custody of the Holy places. The bare hand is the hand of Jesus, while the hand with a sleeve is St. Francis of Assisi, the founder. Both hands are perforated - the holes created by nails (Jesus on the cross, St. Francis of stigmata).
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The photo below shows the alley that leads to the Dormition, seen behind between the two walls, and the tomb of David.
The statue of St Francis, the founder of the order, is seen on the wall. Above it is the symbol of the Franciscans: large cross with four crosses on each of its corners.
Links:
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