The Abbey of the assumption Catholic monastery of the Benedictine order on top of mount Zion, on the capture of the Heavenly Glory of the blessed virgin Mary.

In the New Testament is nothing written about the life of the virgin Mary after the crucifixion and resurrection of Her Son. Some researchers believe that the rest of her life She spent in Ephesus, but mostly legends tell us: Mary lived and died in Jerusalem. Three days after Her death, the Apostle Thomas, who was absent during the funeral, came back and asked me to open the coffin to him and to say goodbye. Everyone saw only the grave cloths and felt wonderful fragrance.

The dogma of the Catholic Church of the assumption of the virgin does not reference the Apocrypha, and says: "the Immaculate mother of God, the ever virgin Mary, having completed His life journey on earth, was taken up body and soul into Heavenly Glory". Does not specify where and how it happened, whether preceded the Ascension of Mary to Her physical death.

The Eastern Church did not recognize the doctrine of the Rapture, but, honoring the Theotokos, ever celebrate Her assumption. Many pilgrims flock to the Greek Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Gethsemane, where, according to tradition, is the tomb of Mary. Catholic tradition believes that the taking of the blessed virgin in Heaven's Glory occurred on mount Zion – where stands the Abbey.

The local Basilica of the assumption of the young compared to many of the Jerusalem temples, she just turned one hundred years. But she stands on the ancient stones. The first Church here was built in the first century. The Church, erected after, destroyed and the Persians, and Muslims. In 1898 Kaiser Wilhelm II during his visit to the Holy Land bought the land (a field full of debris) for German Catholics. In 12 years here on the project of the Cologne architect Heinrich Renard was built a monastery complex.

The massive building of the Basilica with four towers around a conical roof and a bell tower with the helmet dome is visible from many points in Jerusalem. The bell tower is crowned by a weathervane rooster, reminding that it is on mount Zion, in the courtyard of the high priest Caiaphas, there was Peter's threefold denial – twice before the rooster crowed. Out of respect to the neighboring Shrine, the tomb of king David, high chapel placed so that the shadow from it does not fall on the tomb.

The unusual beauty of the Basilica is visible is better, if you go down the alley, leading from Zion gate. Ends narrow street and the visitor suddenly grows colossal Church. The interior is no less impressive: simply gray walls, and just above the altar and in the chapel glows with gold mosaic. Extraordinary chapel in the crypt, decorated with ivory and ebony wood, a gift from the Republic of côte d'ivoire.

In the centre of the crypt is a statue of the virgin Mary, lying on his deathbed. The sculpture is made from cherry wood and ivory. The robe of Mary was originally gilded and decorated with chased silver, but after the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 nothing left. On the mosaic dome above Mary shows Jesus revealing His Mother's arms, ready to take Her in Heavenly Glory.