The Historic St. James Cathedral in Jerusalem Reopened After Restoration

February 2016 – The Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem 

Jerusalem: Monday the 15th of February, the St. James Cathedral was reopened again.

Monday the 15th of February, the St. James Cathedral was reopened again.

From the 1st of June till the 23rd of December 2015 a necessary restoration to the structure of the roofs of the St. James Cathedral took place.

During the course of the restoration khatchkars (cross stones) in walls were discovered, which were likely covered in the restoration around the 19th century.

After the structural repairs of the roof and painting of the ceilings, temporary coverings to protect the inside of the Cathedral had to be removed, only after which the building could be cleaned, and religious artifacts could be returned.

The splendour of the Cathedral is now even more visible- and our liturgies and prayers continue to be heard there, as they have been for centuries.

The special service for the cleaning of the altar took place on Monday the 15th of February, in the Vespers of 3.00 pm, presided by the Grand Sacristan Archbishop Sevan Gharibian, and clergy in attendance. The Church was filled with Armenians and local people for this special ceremony.

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