Church of the Flagellation
The Church of the Flagellation is a Roman Catholic church located in the eastern or old section of Jerusalem, near the Saint Stephen's Gate. Also included in this complex are the Franciscan Monastery of the Flagellation, and the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross.
According to tradition the church enshrines the spot where Jesus Christ was
flogged by Roman soldiers before his journey down the Via Dolorosa to Calvary.
However, this tradition is based on the mistaken assumption that on an area of
roman flagstones, discovered beneath the adjacent Church of the Condemnation and
Imposition of the Cross and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, was the pavement
(Greek: lithostratos) which the Bible describes as the location of Pontius
Pilate's judgment of Jesus; archaeological investigation now indicates that
these slabs are the paving of the eastern of two 2nd century Forums, built by
Hadrian as part of the construction of Aelia Capitolina]. The site of the Forum
had previously been a large open-air pool, the Strouthion Pool, which was
constructed by the Hasmoneans, is mentioned by Josephus as being adjacent to the
Fortress in the first century, and is still present beneath Hadrian's
flagstones.
Like Philo, Josephus testifies that the Roman governors stayed in Herod's palace
while they were in Jerusalem, carried out their judgements on the pavement
immediately outside it, and had those found guilty flogged there; Josephus
indicates that Herod's palace is on the western hill, and it has recently (2001)
been rediscovered under a corner of the Jaffa Gate citadel. Archaeologists now
therefore conclude that in the first century, the Roman Governors judged at the
western hill, rather than the area around the Church of the Flagellation, on the
diametrically opposite side of the city.
The original structure was built in 1839 over the remains of a medieval crusader
shrine. During the Ottoman period this early shrine and its surrounding
buildings were reportedly used as stables, and later as private houses. The
whole complex was eventually given to the Franciscans by Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt
in the 19th century.
The current church was completed between 1927 and 1929 and was a complete
reconstruction of the original shrine. The interior of the church consists of a
single aisle. Some noteworthy points of interest include the church's three
stained glass windows, each depicting a different aspect of the church's
Biblical history, and the church's mosaic-clad golden dome. The first window
depicts Pontius Pilate washing his hands, (Matthew 27:24) the second the
Flagellation, (Mark 15:15) (John 19:1) and the third the victory of Barabbas.
(Matthew 27:26) (Mark 15:15) (Luke 23:24-25) The mosaic of the dome is designed
as a crown of thorns. The architect of the churches reconstruction was Antonio
Barluzzi. The church is currently held in trust by the Franciscan Custody of the
Holy Land.
Text from Wikipedia
