Greek Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist in the Christian quarter - one of the oldest Christian churches in the Holy Land. Behind its simple and even harsh walls hiding ornate interiors and a long history.

Tourists strolling through the streets of the Greek market "Avtimos" in the area and saw from afar Muristan silver dome, and can not figure out how to get to the church. On the part of the market is its semicircular rear part of the apse. To get inside, it is necessary to go beyond Muristan on Christian Street. There, far from the streets of David, among the shops with clothes and souvenirs, lies maloprimetnaya door, over which hangs a modest picture of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. This door leads to the courtyard, and the Greek Orthodox monastery of St. John the Baptist.

The first church was built here in the V century. Even then it was dedicated to John the Baptist - the last prophet, the people of Israel are ready for the appearance of the Messiah. Persian conquerors destroyed the temple in the VII century, but later Patriarch of Alexandria built it anew.

The Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, the building was used as a hospital for the wounded. The current form of church gained during the Hospitallers - the territory of modern Muristan in the XII century, was born and acted the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (or the Hospital or Malta). His knights cared for the sick in a major charity hospital, which, together with residential buildings and restored the Order of the monastery and the church was a quarter.

After the conquest of Jerusalem by Sultan Saladin in 1187 the Hospital, as well as all Christians were expelled from the city. The temple was abandoned, it was repaired only in the XIX century, and since then the parish pastoral care of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem (Greek Orthodox Church).

Discreet facade with a low bell tower - a legacy of the era of the Crusaders, but the layout of the V century Byzantine church is preserved: three apses, a long porch. Visitors marveled at the beauty of the interior: gorgeous green and gold iconostasis (believed to be the longest in Jerusalem) in 1853, stained glass windows and spectacular painted dome supported by four columns. At the entrance is exposed fragment of the relics of John the Baptist. Orthodox pilgrims certainly applied to this shrine. Also kept in the temple pieces of the relics of St. Panagiotis - Greek martyr for the faith, killed by Muslims in 1820 here in Jerusalem.

In ancient crypt leads a ladder by which we must go down by nearly seven meters under the ground. On the wall - a small icon of a saint Evdokia, recalls that it was the Byzantine Empress Evdokia in the V century founded this church.