The Armenian Church and Convent in Jerusalem
The modern natives of Jerusalem caused the artist much annoyance when he attempted to take this, his second, photographic view in the City of Jerusalem in March, 1894 The men wanted to walk directly in front of the lens so as to permit the photographer to get a life-size view of themselves, whereas the artist was extremely anxious to get a good picture of the Armenian convent and church. In the above view we are looking toward the east. The Armenians separated themselves from the Catholic Church in 491 on account of the decision of the Council of Chalcedon, which pronounced their monophysite doctrine heretical. Members belonging to the Armenian Church are scattered throughout the Turkish dominions. The building which, we now face, embracing church and convent, stands upon Mount Zion. It was founded in the eleventh century by the Georgians, but on account of the enormous taxes levied upon it by the Turkish Government they were compelled to sell it. In this way it came into the hands of the Armenians in the fifteenth century. The church is dedicated to St. James, and a tradition of no great value makes it stand on the spot where the Apostle James was martyred. The chair of St. James is pointed out, and adjoining the church is a chapel said to stand upon the site of the house of the high priest Annas. Another place is pointed out as the spot where our Lord was confined. The Armenian Patriarch lives here. His authority extends over Palestine and Cyprus.
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