St John the Baptist Church, Jerusalem

View of the church from Muristan

The Church of Saint John the Baptist in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem is a small Greek Orthodox church. It was founded in 450-460 by Empress Eudoсia and restored after the destruction by Persians in 614. The current building was built over the Byzantine church by Amalfian merchants in 11th century and became the headquarters of Knights Hospitaller after the Crusaders took the city. The church was used as a mosque for some time in 16th century but then reverted to Greek ownership. The building has 3 apses and a long narthex, its dome is supported by 4 pillars.^[1] According to the Greek Orthodox tradition the head of St. John the Baptist was buried in this church.^[2]

References

1. Church of John the Baptist, Jerusalem, Sacred Destinations
2. St. John the Baptist, Christian quarter, BibleWalks