At the foot of the Mount of Olives, where the Kidron Valley meets the approach to Gethsemane, a grand staircase descends underground to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. The church, maintained by the Greek Orthodox and Armenian communities, is one of the most atmospheric underground spaces in Jerusalem, and the experience of descending into it feels like entering another world.
Descent
Forty-seven wide stone steps lead down from street level into a dimly lit, incense-filled crypt. The staircase, built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, is broad enough for processions and flanked by walls darkened by centuries of candle smoke. Oil lamps hang from the vaulted ceiling at every level, their light reflecting off the polished stone in a golden haze. The descent feels ceremonial, as if the architecture is preparing you for what waits at the bottom.
The Tomb
The tomb itself is a rock-cut chamber at the center of the underground church, venerated by Eastern Christians as the place where Mary was buried before her assumption into heaven. The tradition holds that the apostles buried Mary here three days after her death, and when they opened the tomb, they found it empty, her body having been taken up to heaven. Catholic tradition places the same event at the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion, but Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, and Coptic Christians hold firmly to this site.
The tomb chamber is small and enclosed, draped in fabrics and illuminated by dozens of oil lamps and candles. The walls are blackened by centuries of flame, and the atmosphere is dense with incense, devotion, and the accumulated prayers of countless pilgrims.
Other Tombs
The church also contains the tombs traditionally attributed to Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, on alcoves along the descending staircase, and to her husband Joseph. These identifications are traditional rather than archaeological, but the devotion at each tomb is genuine and adds to the layered sacredness of the space.
Mihrab
Uniquely, the underground church contains a mihrab (Islamic prayer niche) near the tomb. Muslims venerate Mary (Maryam) as one of the most righteous women in history, and she is mentioned more times in the Quran than in the New Testament. The presence of a mihrab in a Christian church reflects the shared reverence for Mary that crosses the boundary between the faiths.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Tomb of the Virgin Mary is a powerful underground experience that should not be missed. Hoshen Tours includes it in Mount of Olives itineraries alongside Gethsemane next door.