Jerusalem’s Dormition Abbey Celebrates 100th Anniversary
On August 15, the Benedictine Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem celebrated a historic milestone. Exactly a century ago, in 1926, Pope Pius XI elevated the monastery to the rank of an abbey.
The renowned monastery sits atop Mount Zion, just outside the Zion Gate of the Old City. According to Christian tradition, it was here, in the home of the Apostle John, that the Blessed Virgin Mary completed her earthly life. The name “Dormition” itself is derived from the Latin word for “sleep” or “falling asleep.”
The history of the modern complex dates back to the late 19th century. During a visit to Jerusalem in 1898, German Kaiser Wilhelm II acquired the plot of land from Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II and presented it to the German Association of the Holy Land. The foundation stone was laid in 1900, and six years later, the first monks from the German Beuron Congregation arrived. In 1910, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem consecrated the main church.
Prior to 1926, the community held the status of a priory. Following its official elevation, Maurus Kaufmann became the first abbot. Over the past century, the community has weathered profound trials. The brethren were interned during both World Wars and again during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The abbey endured periods of wartime devastation and abandonment, yet it was invariably restored.
Today, the monastery remains one of the most vital centers of Christian pilgrimage in the Holy Land. The community is currently led by Nikodemus Schnabel, the eighth abbot in the history of the Dormition, who was elected to the position in 2023.
The culmination of today’s jubilee celebrations was a solemn Mass. As the abbey enters its second century, it continues its steadfast commitment to the ancient traditions of prayer, hospitality, academic scholarship, and ecumenical dialogue.
