Church of Zion, Jerusalem
Encyclopedia
The Church of Zion, Jerusalem, also known as the Church of the Apostles on Mount Zion, is the thesis of a presumed distinct Jewish-Christian congregation continuing at Mount Zion
in Jerusalem in the 2nd-5th Century, when it was the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina
, distinct from the main Gentile congregation which had its home at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
. The reference to such a congregation is from the Bordeaux Pilgrim (c.333), Cyril of Jerusalem
(348) and Eucherius of Lyon
(440), but in academic terms the theory originates with Bellarmino Bagatti
(1976), who considered that such a church, or Judéo-Christian synagogue continued it what was presumed as the old "Essene Quarter."
Connected with this is the 1951 discovery by archaeologist Jacob Pinkerfield
of the remains of a synagogue on Mount Zion which he concluded had later been used as a Jewish-Christian church. The support of Emmanuel Testa for Bagatti's views has led to the view being described as "the Bagatti-Testa school", with the thesis that a surviving Jewish-Christian existed in Jerusalem, and that many Jewish-Christians returned to Jerusalem after the wars and established themselves on Mount Zion. Bagatti's theory is supported by Bargil Pixner
(May 1990 Biblical Archaeology Review
) who argues that a 6th Century map shows two churches - the Hagia Maria Sion Abbey
and the "Church of the Apostles," the putative Jewish-Christian synagogue of Mount Zion
. Against this a problem with the thesis of Bagatti, Testa, Pinkerfeld and Pixner is that the layers indicate a Crusader structure built on top of Roman layers.
Mount Zion
Mount Zion is a place name for a site in Jerusalem, the location of which has shifted several times in history. According to the Hebrew Bible's Book of Samuel, it was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the "stronghold of Zion" that was conquered by King David, becoming his palace in the City...
in Jerusalem in the 2nd-5th Century, when it was the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina
Aelia Capitolina
Aelia Capitolina was a city built by the emperor Hadrian, and occupied by a Roman colony, on the site of Jerusalem, which was in ruins since 70 AD, leading in part to the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132–136.-Politics:...
, distinct from the main Gentile congregation which had its home at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
. The reference to such a congregation is from the Bordeaux Pilgrim (c.333), Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem was a distinguished theologian of the early Church . He is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. In 1883, Cyril was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII...
(348) and Eucherius of Lyon
Eucherius of Lyon
Saint Eucherius, bishop of Lyon, was a high-born and high-ranking ecclesiastic in the Christian Church of Gaul. He is remembered for his letters advocating extreme self-abnegation. Henry Wace ranked him "except perhaps St. Irenaeus the most distinguished occupant of that see".On the death of his...
(440), but in academic terms the theory originates with Bellarmino Bagatti
Bellarmino Bagatti
Bellarmino Camillo Bagatti was a controversial 20th century archaeologist and ordained priest .Among his writings was the book Excavations in Nazareth. Vol. II. From the 12th century until Today....
(1976), who considered that such a church, or Judéo-Christian synagogue continued it what was presumed as the old "Essene Quarter."
Connected with this is the 1951 discovery by archaeologist Jacob Pinkerfield
Jacob Pinkerfield
Jacob Pinkerfield was an Israeli archaeologist and architect. He worked on excavations at Tell el-Kheleifeh which Nelson Glueck at the time had mistakenly identified as Solomon's Ezion-geber and the putative site of the Church of Zion, Jerusalem, forming the basis of Bargil Pixner's thesis of a...
of the remains of a synagogue on Mount Zion which he concluded had later been used as a Jewish-Christian church. The support of Emmanuel Testa for Bagatti's views has led to the view being described as "the Bagatti-Testa school", with the thesis that a surviving Jewish-Christian existed in Jerusalem, and that many Jewish-Christians returned to Jerusalem after the wars and established themselves on Mount Zion. Bagatti's theory is supported by Bargil Pixner
Bargil Pixner
Bargil Pixner was an Italian Benedictine monk, Biblical scholar and archaeologist, and Benedictine authority on the Dead Sea scrolls.- Biography :...
(May 1990 Biblical Archaeology Review
Biblical Archaeology Review
Biblical Archaeology Review is a publication that seeks to connect the academic study of archaeology to a broad general audience seeking to understand the world of the Bible and the Near and Middle East . Covering both the Old and New Testaments, BAR presents the latest discoveries and...
) who argues that a 6th Century map shows two churches - the Hagia Maria Sion Abbey
Hagia Maria Sion Abbey
Hagia Maria Sion Abbey is a Benedictine abbey in Jerusalem on Mt. Zion just outside the walls of the Old City near the Zion Gate.It was formerly known as the Abbey of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, but the name was changed in 1998 in reference to the church of Hagia Sion that formerly stood on...
and the "Church of the Apostles," the putative Jewish-Christian synagogue of Mount Zion
Mount Zion
Mount Zion is a place name for a site in Jerusalem, the location of which has shifted several times in history. According to the Hebrew Bible's Book of Samuel, it was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the "stronghold of Zion" that was conquered by King David, becoming his palace in the City...
. Against this a problem with the thesis of Bagatti, Testa, Pinkerfeld and Pixner is that the layers indicate a Crusader structure built on top of Roman layers.