The Cenacle (Supper Room)

Located on Mount Zion, just outside Zion Gate and the Old City walls, is the Cenacle, derived from the Latin for “dining room.” This site is believed to be the location of the Last Supper, the Passover meal shared between Jesus and his disciples the night before his crucifixion. It was during this meal that Jesus offered his disciples wine, a symbol of his blood, and bread, a symbol of his body. This marks the institution of the Eucharist or Communion, which is practiced today in the Christian Church to commemorate the Last Supper and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is also believed that this was the site of the Pentecost, the appearance of the Holy Spirit to the apostles allowing them to speak in previously unknown languages in order to spread Christianity throughout the nations. This event is widely recognized as the birth of the Christian Church. The Cenacle is located on the upper floor of a two-story building that was originally a part of a Crusader era Church built on the ruins of a destroyed Byzantine Basilica, thought to be the Hagia Sion constructed during the 4th century. The Crusaders built this Gothic style chapel as part of their Church of Our Lady of Mount Zion during the 12th century. A remnant of this time period can be seen in the marble columns supporting the vaulted ceiling. Interestingly, one of the column capitals depicts the image of two young pelicans feeding on their mother, a symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. After the fall of the Crusaders, the site was taken over by Syrian Christians and then the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land in 1335, who carried out renovations to the site. It remained under their administration until 1524 when the Ottomans took control and turned the site into a mosque dedicated to the Prophet David, whose tomb is believed to also be located at the site. Design elements of this time period can still be seen in the Cenacle, including a mihrab, Arabic inscription, and minaret and dome that were installed on its roof. Today, the site is administered by the Israeli Ministry of Interior and houses the Christian Sanctuary of the Cenacle on its upper floor and a shrine and synagogues dedicated to the Tomb of King David on the lower floor. Visitors of all faiths are welcome at the site, which is open daily, apart from the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. From the Cenacle, visitors will have a beautiful of the Old City walls, the nearby Dormition Abbey, as well as a view across to the Mount of Olives. Access to the Cenacle is possible from the walkway outside of Zion Gate. There is also parking available on Mount Zion for visitors arriving by car.