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The Monastery of the Flagellation is a Franciscan monastery in the Muslim Quarter of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old City of Jerusalem.
The Monastery of the Flagellation marks the 2nd Station of the Via Dolorosa and consists of two churches and a museum. It encloses part of the Lithostrotos, or Gabbatha, where Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion, flogged, and forced to carry the cross. The 1st Station, where he was sentenced under Pontius Pilate, is believed to be across the street at the Umariya Elementary School.
The land on which the complex now sits was taken over by the Muslims in the late 12th century. It was given to the Franciscans in 1838 by Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt (1789-1848).
Church of the Flagellation
Immediately to the right just inside the entrance is the Church of the Flagellation. It was built above the spot where Jesus was flogged by Roman soldiers.
The church was originally built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. When the Ottomans took over in 1516, the church and surrounding buildings were used as stables and later private residences. In 1839, the church was rebuilt by Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria (1808-1888), and a plaque on the building commemorates the event. The current Church of the Flagellation was completed in 1929 by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi (1884-1960) in a 12th century medieval style.
The Church of the Flagellation consists of a single aisle. There are three large stained glass windows depicting Pontius Pilate washing his hands; the flagellation; and the pardoning of Barabbas. The dome was designed to resemble the Crown of Thorns.
Church of the Condemnation
To the left of the entrance is the Church of the Condemnation and the Imposition of the Cross. It marks the spot where Jesus took up the cross after being condemned to death by crucifixion.
The current church was built in 1904 by German architect Wendelin Hinterkeuser (1851-1921). It sits atop the ruins of a medieval chapel.
The Church of the Condemnation is topped with five white domes, each containing stained glass windows. It features original Roman floors, with one slab bearing the marks of an ancient game played by soldiers.
Map of Jerusalem
Outside the church is a map of Jerusalem during the time of Christ. Our guide, Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, used the map to explain the entire sequence of events from the arrest of Jesus leading up to the crucifixion.
Terra Sancta Museum
The third part of the complex is the Terra Sancta Museum, which is covered in a separate entry. The museum chronicles the artistic, historical, and religious history of the Christian faith and the Via Dolorosa. The archaeological and multimedia sections are at the Monastery of the Flagellation while the historical section is at St. Saviour Monastery in the Christian Quarter.
Nearby…
The Monastery of the Flagellation sits near the Praetorium, where Jesus was imprisoned, mocked, and crowned with thorns. The Ecce Homo speech by Pontius Pilate is also believed to have taken place in the area, where the Church of Ecce Homo and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion now stand.
