The Chapel of the Ascension (Hebrew: קפלת העלייה Qapelat ha-ʿAliyya, Greek: Εκκλησάκι της Αναλήψεως, Ekklisáki tis Analípseos) is a shrine located on the Mount of Olives, in the At-Tur district of Jerusalem. Part of a larger complex consisting first of a Christian church and monastery, then an Islamic mosque, it is located on a site the faithful traditionally believed to be the earthly spot where Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection. It houses a slab of stone believed to contain one of his footprints. The Status Quo, a 250-year-old understanding between religious communities, applies to the site. Shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus, early Christians began gathering in secret to commemorate his Ascension at a small cave on the Mount of Olives. The issuance of the Edict of Milan by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 313 made it possible for Christians to worship overtly without fear of government persecution. By the time of the pilgrim Egeria's travels to Jerusalem in 384, the spot of veneration had been moved to the present location, uphill from the cave, which had been integrated into the Constantinian Church of Eleona, dedicated by then just to Jesus' teachings about good and evil (Matthew 24:1-26:2). Egeria witnessed the celebration of the Ascension at an "open hillock" near the cave. The first church was erected there a few years later, sometime before 392, by a lady from the imperial family, Poimenia. Later a legend attributed the church to Saint Helena, mother of Constantine I. The legend holds that during Saint Helena's pilgrimage to the Holy Land between 326 and 328, she identified two spots on the Mount of Olives as being associated with Jesus' life - the place of his Ascension, and a grotto associated with his teaching of the Lord's Prayer - and that on her return to Rome she ordered the construction of two sanctuaries at these locations.

Chapel of the Ascension Tours and Tickets
🎧 No audio guides are available in this language.
The Chapel of the Ascension (Hebrew: קפלת העלייה Qapelat ha-ʿAliyya, Greek: Εκκλησάκι της Αναλήψεως, Ekklisáki tis Analípseos) is a shrine located on the Mount of Olives, in the At-Tur district of Jerusalem. Part of a larger complex consisting first of a Christian church and monastery, then an Islamic mosque, it is located on a site the faithful traditionally believed to be the earthly spot where Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection. It houses a slab of stone believed to contain one of his footprints. The Status Quo, a 250-year-old understanding between religious communities, applies to the site. Shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus, early Christians began gathering in secret to commemorate his Ascension at a small cave on the Mount of Olives. The issuance of the Edict of Milan by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 313 made it possible for Christians to worship overtly without fear of government persecution. By the time of the pilgrim Egeria's travels to Jerusalem in 384, the spot of veneration had been moved to the present location, uphill from the cave, which had been integrated into the Constantinian Church of Eleona, dedicated by then just to Jesus' teachings about good and evil (Matthew 24:1-26:2). Egeria witnessed the celebration of the Ascension at an "open hillock" near the cave. The first church was erected there a few years later, sometime before 392, by a lady from the imperial family, Poimenia. Later a legend attributed the church to Saint Helena, mother of Constantine I. The legend holds that during Saint Helena's pilgrimage to the Holy Land between 326 and 328, she identified two spots on the Mount of Olives as being associated with Jesus' life - the place of his Ascension, and a grotto associated with his teaching of the Lord's Prayer - and that on her return to Rome she ordered the construction of two sanctuaries at these locations.
Overview
More Info
- The Chapel of the Ascension on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives is a sacred site for both Christians and Muslims. It claims to be the oldest of three churches located on the Mount. Though Jesus is believed to have taken his final steps before ascending to heaven here (there is even a footprint impression on a stone slab that is believed to be from Jesus’s right foot), the site has since been converted to a mosque, after being captured by the Muslim sultan Saladin in the 10th century. It remains under the control of an Islamic group, though all faiths are welcome.Many believe Jesus’s Assumption, 40 days after his resurrection, had taken place inside a cave. Nonetheless a church was built in this spot in the 4th century. Its exterior is marked by archways and slim marble columns, built in a Romaneque style.The Chapel of the Ascension is located in the At-Tur district of Jerusalem. It is open to visitors daily during daylight hours.
More Adventures for You
0$
0$
3000$
Price From
4.00 USD
Trace the footsteps of Jesus Christ on a full-day walking tour of Jerusalem, and see the settings of many time-honored biblical tales. With a knowledgeable guide at your side, stroll down the Mount of Olives and visit sites such as Dominus Flevit Church and the Church of All Nations. Hear of Jesus’ links to ancient Jerusalem while exploring the Old City and take in the Pool of Bethesda, St Anne Church, Convent of the Sisters of Zion and more. Finally, finish with a highlight, visiting the famous Via Dolorosa pilgrimage route where Jesus is said to have walked to his crucifixion._en-US
Learn More
Price From
4.00 USD
Leave Tel Aviv and spend a whole day in Jerusalem discovering the city’s Christian sights on a walking tour. Widely believed to be the city where Jesus Christ lived and died, Jerusalem is home to the settings of countless biblical tales. Walk with a local guide down the Mount of Olives, through Jerusalem Old City, and over to the start point of the Via Dolorosa pilgrimage route while visiting religious landmarks such as the Church of All Nations, Pool of Bethesda, St Anne Church and more._en-US
Learn More
Price From
4.00 USD
Leave Tel Aviv and celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem! The day trip includes mass at a church in Bethpage followed by the annual Palm Sunday procession along the Via Dolorosa pilgrimage route. Reenacting the famous Passover event when Jesus is believed to have entered Jerusalem by donkey, the colorful procession draws crowds of Christian locals and pilgrims from all over the world. Stroll from the Mount of Olives down through Kidron Valley and into Jerusalem’s Old City, passing historical landmarks such as the Garden of Gethsemane, Lion’s Gate and more!_en-US
Learn More
Price From
5.00 USD
Tour the best of the Christian sites in Israel. Travel and see the many Churches, the amazing architecture, and the scenery as you are driving. Tour with a licensed guide to see the Church of Nativity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and many more. This is a 4 day tour that will cover most of the places that Jesus has walked. Tour with a loved one, friends, church group, or alone._en-US
Learn More
Price From
4.00 USD
Celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, and attend mass at a church in Bethpage before joining the famous procession along the Via Dolorosa pilgrimage route. Reenacting the famous Passover event when Jesus is said to have entered Jerusalem by donkey, the procession takes place yearly, and draws colorful crowds of Christian locals and pilgrims from all over the world. Walk from the Mount of Olives through Kidron Valley and into Jerusalem’s Old City, passing must-see biblical landmarks such as the Garden of Gethsemane, Lion’s Gate and more._en-US
Learn More

