St. Peter in Gallicantu

Standing on the easter slope of the Mount Zion is the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. This spot is believed to be the House of the High Priest Caiaphas. An important stopover for pilgrims to Jerusalem, the site commemorates the appearance of Jesus before Caiaphas, the death sentence of Jesus imposed by Sanhedrin, and the denials of Peter and his repentance when the rooster crows. A Byzantine Church was built on the site between 457-460 by the Empress Eudokia. In 529, it was partially damaged during the Samaritan rebellion. In 614, it was completely destroyed during the Persian invasion. A second church was later built in 628 but was destroyed in 1009 by the Caliph Hakim. The third Church was built by the Crusaders in 1102 and was later destroyed between 1293 and 1335. The site remained in ruins until it was rebuilt between 1920-1930 by the Assumptionist Father Etienne Boubet. The existing Church was built in the neo-Byzantine style built on four levels; the upper Church, the Crypt, the guardroom and the dungeon. The entrance to the upper church is located on the upper level of the parking lot. A statue in the courtyard depicts the events of the denial and its main figures, namely the cock, the woman, and the Roman soldier. The inside of the upper-level Church is adorned with three large mosaics covering the back wall and two side walls. Facing the entrance is a bound Jesus being questioned in the house of Caiaphas; on the right, Jesus and the disciples are shown at the Last Supper and on the left, Peter is depicted in ancient papal dress as the first pope. The stairs lead down to the Crypt which is built over the deep pit, and occupies a large space cut out of the rock. The pit is visible through a hole in the rock and is believe to be the place where Jesus was held captive before being brought to Sanhedrin. The guardroom and dungeon are also located below. Other excavations at the site uncovered an ancient stepped stone paved street dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods. The ancient staircase that leads down to the Kidron Valley is located on the north side of the church. During the first temple period, this may have been a passage from the upper city to the lower city. Christians believe that Jesus followed this path to Gethsemane on the night of his arrest. The church is administered by the Assumptionist Fathers (also known as the Augustinians of the Assumption), an order established in France in 1850 in Nimes (France) and named for the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The Assumptionists first arrived in the Holy Land in 1882 and established two large centers in Jerusalem; the Notre Dame Center and the Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Today, the complex also includes accommodation with options for single, twin, and four -bed rooms all equipped with the private bathrooms and other amenities. A gift shop offering a wide variety of souvenirs and artworks made by monasteries, religious communities and craftsmen of the Holy Land. The site also has a cafeteria offering a selection of warm and cold drinks for visitors.