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Palestine Atlas

Christian Quarter

Basic Information

Type
Town
Governorate
Jerusalem
Region
Jerusalem

Overview

The Christian Quarter is one of the four quarters of the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, occupying the northwestern sector of the 0.9 km² walled area. It is home to about 40 Christian holy places, most notably the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — Christianity's holiest site, believed to encompass the locations of Jesus' crucifixion (Golgotha), burial, and resurrection. The quarter contains the patriarchal seats of the Greek Orthodox, Latin (Roman Catholic), and Armenian Apostolic Churches, and serves as the center of Christian pilgrimage for the approximately 2.4 billion Christians worldwide. The Christian Quarter's Palestinian Christian community has maintained a continuous presence in Jerusalem for nearly 2,000 years, tracing their ancestry to the earliest followers of Jesus. However, this ancient community faces an existential crisis: Christian Palestinians have been emigrating from Jerusalem in large numbers due to occupation pressures, economic discrimination, limited prospects, and the general burdens of living under military occupation. The Christian population of Jerusalem has declined from approximately 25% in the mid-20th century to less than 2% of the city's total population today — a trend that threatens the very continuity of the Christian presence in the Holy City.

Historical Significance

Contains Christianity's holiest site, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Center of Christian pilgrimage for nearly two millennia.

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

  • Ir Amim
  • B'Tselem
  • UN OCHA
  • ARIJ
  • UNESCO
  • Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
  • Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
  • BADIL Resource Center

The Christian Quarter's Palestinian Christian community faces an existential threat from emigration driven by occupation pressures. This is the community with the oldest continuous Christian presence in the world.