Room of the Last Supper, or the Cenacle (derived from the Latin cena - «dinner meal") tradition places the building on Mount Zion, where the tomb of King David. Tomb - on the ground floor, the upper room - on the second.

The Gospel of Mark tells us: on the eve of Passover, Jesus sent "two of his disciples" (St. Luke points out - it was Peter and John) Jerusalem: "... Go into the city ... tell the master of the house, The Master saith, Where is the room in which to I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us "(Mk 14: 13-15).

To the upper room, Jesus the last time in the earthly life shared a meal with the apostles. There he instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist - the eating of his flesh and blood under the species of bread and wine. There Christ as servant, washed the feet of his disciples - Peter tried to refuse this honor, but Jesus insisted. There Savior gave the apostles a new commandment of universal love: "Love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12). On the eve of his departure, he instituted the sacrament of the priesthood: "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world" (Jn 17: 16-17). All that happened during that dinner is incredibly important for Christians.

Peering into the chamber, a tourist deems that it is like a small room of the house I century. That's right: the grand room with a high vaulted ceiling refers to the era of the Crusaders, it was part of the church of the XII century. Marble columns support the dome above the stairs, on the capitals depicts a pelican (in Christian art - a symbol of charity and sacrifice). Colorful stained glass window and the mihrab niche-all belong to the Islamic era.

However, the Crusaders have chosen this place for his church is not accidental. Studies show that after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, 70 soldiers, in only a few intact buildings on Mount Zion, including, apparently, and is where the Last Supper took place. Tradition says that it was here that the apostles were going after the execution of the Savior, here at Pentecost descended upon them the Holy Spirit in the form of cloven tongues of fire. It is believed that in this house, and there was the first church in the Christian world. In the IV century in its place was built the Basilica of the Holy Sion, which was honored "the mother of all churches." In the XII century it burned Persians - Crusaders captured Jerusalem, found only ruins.

Keenly aware of the importance of these sacred stones, the Crusaders built a church for them, including a Cenacle. Saladin, having won the Holy Land, did not break down or transform the basilica on Mount Zion in the mosque - he gave her to the care of the Syrian Christians. Despite numerous restructuring, it has reached our days almost intact.

Of course, the true face of the upper chamber of the Gospel known. The power of imagination to recreate it tried for centuries the greatest masters, from Leonardo da Vinci to Salvador Dali. But the point at which there is currently Cenacle - apparently is the same. Echo last sermon the Savior sounded under the arches of the Cenacle.