The Nea Church

Christianity prospered in Jerusalem during the Byzantine era because the rulers of the empire had adopted it as their religion, from Constantine to Heraclius (Parker 136). The people who were once persecuted for their faith were now expressing it with the support of their emperors who were building basilicas, monasteries, and other religious buildings throughout the Byzantine Empire. Some of the buildings in the Holy City survived intact to this day, notably the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; meanwhile, the remains of others are just now being discovered. The Nea was one of the buildings left in ruins and buried under the city. Several centuries after its demise, archaeologists and historians can study and emphasize the structure’s architectural feats, purpose, and place in the history of the Holy City. The Nea Church is a religious edifice that …show more content…
Architect Theodoros, sent by Justinian to finish the Nea, was given specific instructions for this construction project. The shrine is described to be a “375 by 185 foot basilica” and “the largest church in Israel”(Wiemers 215). Many pictures and sketches of what the Nea may have looked like portray it to be a long, rectangular structure. The front of the church would have consisted of a huge garden adorning it. Then, behind it would have been the church whose interior consisted of a long naive with columns on either side separating it from the aisles(Ngo). Under the entire structure are the 30 foot high vaults that sustain it (Wiemer 218). Furthermore, the Nea was distinguishable from other churches in Jerusalem. It was common to build churches where the divine had once appeared or an important religious event occurred. For instance, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built over the place of Jesus’ burial and crucifixion. Solomon’s Temple is believed to have been built on Mount Moriah over the site where Abraham took Isaac for