Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem
The Armenian Quarter is one of the four quarters of the Old City, and covers one-sixth of the area found within its ancient walls. These walls date back to the time when Jerusalem was finally rebuilt by Herod after his victory over Antigonus in 161 BC, and they have largely withstood the trials of time.
The settlement was believed to be first established by King Herod when he built his palace on the upper part of the Quarter in around 35 BC up to 25 BC. The higher ground location of the King’s fortress and palace is one of the reasons why it’s also called as the Upper City.
Sometimes the Armenian settlement is also believed to be the site of Mount Zion, which is why it’s predominantly called as the mountain itself. Moreover, the Zion Gate is also the entrance to the Armenian Quarter, opening to one of the streets outside the wall called as the Zion Street.
The Armenian Quarter has a lot to offer when it comes to historical sites in Jerusalem. Aside from the notable Zion Gate and Mount Zion, there are plenty of tourists spots in the area.
St. James Armenian Convent (photo credits to Jorge Láscar)
The compound is consists of various synagogues and temples such as St. James Armenian Convent and the residential neighborhood that is adjacent to it. The convent is located in the Old City, which is in an area towards the center that includes a large number of historic buildings and streets.
Within the Quarter is also the known archaeological museum with a rich collection of artifacts from Jerusalem’s history called as the Tower of David Museum.
The Armenian Quarter is accessible going through the road of Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate. It is a one-way route passing through the center of the settlement and ending to the Gate of Zion. Beside this street, this quarter is known for having narrow alleys, vintage shops, and outdoor cafes that line the streets.
The Armenian Quarter is the smallest of four quarters in the Old City of Jerusalem that were established during the Ottoman period. There are references about this settlement dating even in 4th century AD. Its trace were seen when the Armenian monks decided to settle in the Holy Land and adopted the Christian Religion as their primary sector.
The Armenians were one of the first Christian sects in the region and had been there since the earliest days of Christianity. They were present at major milestones that shaped Christianity, including the Council of Nicaea, which defined Jesus’ nature as both divine and human.
The Armenian neighborhood evolved gradually around the St. James Monastery, dominating the quarter and started to developed until to its present form by the nineteenth century.
By 1948, the Armenian population in Jerusalem numbered over 16,000 and was concentrated in the Armenian Quarter. That number has since dwindled to about 1000 today. The total number of Armenians residing in Israel and the West Bank is estimated to be about 2000.
