Muristan, an area of ​​17 thousand square meters in the Christian quarter is located between the three churches - Holy Sepulchre Greek Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist and Lutheran Church of the Savior. The small space is depicted by a streets rays radiating from the central square with a fountain. The lanes are 70 stores that make up the market "Avtimos." But Muristan worth a visit not only because of the market: it is a historical place.

Street on the east side of the district is called - Muristan. Memorial sign on it says that here was the first hospital of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (version Hospitaller Order of naming or Malta). One of the most famous medieval religious and military orders began in the XII century it was in this area, at the hospital provide treatment not only Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, but also to all who need it.

The infirmary is an impressive building with massive columns and ribbed vaults. Here, at the same time could be up to two thousand people - they were treated and fed for free, the Jews provide kosher food. Hospitallers also help the local poor, restored Byzantine Church of St. John the Baptist, destroyed in the VII century. Residential buildings and hospital buildings Order occupied the whole block.

After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, the new ruler, Sultan Saladin, drove out of the city of all Christians, including the Hospital (say, ten knights were allowed to remain for a time, to care for sick Christians). But it continued to heal, and in the XIII century and opened a madhouse. For a place finally got the name Muristan (distorted Persian word meaning hospital). However, during the earthquake in 1457 the hospital building collapsed, it did not recover, and the area gradually fell into decay. (Huge old hospital rooms were excavated and presented to the public in 2013.)

Life bubbled here again in the second half of the XIX century, when Sultan Abdul Aziz presented the eastern part of the Prussian Crown Prince Muristan Friedrich Wilhelm and west, in order to ensure equal representation of denominations - the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Germans built the magnificent Church of the Redeemer (its bell tower stands at the northern end of the street Muristan), and the Greeks took over the care of the church and monastery of St. John the Baptist. In 1903 there was opened the Greek market "Avtimos" - believed to be at the initiative of Archimandrite Avtimosa.

Now Muristan - noisy and cheerful place. The market sells leather and jewelry, souvenirs, clothes and carpets in bright colors. On a small market square smells of coffee - where you can eat outdoors. Around often hear Russian speech, in some shops - signs in Russian. Fountain early XX century in the center of the square, decorated with rare in Jerusalem, sculptural images of human faces, is regularly used as a backdrop for music festivals.