Mosque Name: Kathisma Church
Country: Israel
City: Bethlehem
Year of construction (AD): 8th century
GPS: 31°44’21.74”N 35°12’46.99”E
Gibson Classification: Petra
Rebuilt facing Mecca: never
For a Link to the Qibla Tool Click Here
Description:
In 1992, 350 meters north of the monastery of Mar Elias (hence between the monastery and Ramat Rahel) were discovered the remains of an important Byzantine church. This church is located about midway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, at a place where some Jewish traditions hold that Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and then died. Also, it is remembered as a place where Mary took rest on her way to Bethlehem (according to the Protoevangelium of James). Other sources tell us that there was a church there, called the Church of the Kathisma of Mary Theotokos (Church of the Sear of Mary).
Several excavations led by Rina Avner revealed an octagonal church from the Byzantine era, with a rock directly in the middle, presumable the one that Mary rested on. Various numismatic and ceramic evidence led the excavators to date the church as early as the 5th century. It seemed to have been renovated around 531 CE. After this time (late 7th century or early 8th century) a mihrab was built on the south side of the church, leading historians to believe that the church wad transformed into a mosque. (possibly only in its southern part.) Some of the floors and mosaics were well preserved, leading Guillaume Dye (The Qur’an and its Hypertextuality in Light of Redaction Criticism, Universite libre de Bruxelles, ULB) to see comparisons with the Dome of the Rock.
Measuring the mihrab of this ruin has been difficult, as there is little left to work with. From the diagram below, you can see that the mihrab is on the south side, facing slightly east. We have had several volunteers independently visit this site and attempt to measure the mihrab. All are in agreement that it faces south generally towards Petra.
The Qibla of the mihrab seems to point west of Petra. It is definitely not a Between or Meccan Qibla.
Plan of the church
Arial view of the remains of the church
Church ruins
Location of the Qibla
References:
Avner, Rina, 2007. “The Kathisma: A Christian and Muslim Pilgrimage Site”, ARAM 18-19: 541-557.
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