Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is a Protestant church in the Muristan quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, a few steps from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Completed in 1898 in a Romanesque style, it was built for the German Protestant community, and its bell tower is one of the best viewpoints over the rooftops of the Old City.

The story behind it

The church stands in the Muristan, a district that was at the centre of Crusader Jerusalem. The name comes from a Persian word for hospital, a nod to the medieval hospices and infirmaries once found here. The site already held a medieval church before the Lutheran building was raised on it in the late 19th century.

The Prussian crown took a close interest in the project, and Emperor Wilhelm II came to Jerusalem in 1898 for the dedication. The building is full of Christian symbolism: a lamb stands for Jesus as the sacrificial offering, and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last of the alphabet, express the idea that God is the beginning and the end of all things.

What to look for

• Study the carved decoration around the entrance and on the exterior walls, where the lamb and other Christian symbols are worked into the stone.
• Look for the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, which the route creators point out on the exterior of the building.
• Notice the plain, solid Romanesque lines of the church, which set it apart from the older churches and the market lanes around it.
• If the tower is open, climb it for a wide view over the domes, roofs and towers of the Old City, including the dome of the Holy Sepulchre close by.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the church and a little longer if you climb the bell tower. Check current opening hours and any entry arrangements before you go.
• Go in the morning or late afternoon for softer light on the stone and a clearer view from the tower.
• The church sits right beside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, so the two combine easily on one walk through the Christian Quarter.
• Dress modestly, as it is an active place of worship, and expect narrow lanes and steps in the area.

See it on a quest

You reach the church on foot as one stop of Science Fiction in Jerusalem: Historic Cultures, a self-guided route through the Old City. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look closely at the carvings and details rather than walking past. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.