Jerusalem: A Christian Pilgrimage Destination

Succeeding the emperor Julian was Jovian, a Christian who banned the Jews from the Jerusalem once again. Their devotion to the city strengthened all the more after nearly losing it, Christians began to travel into the city in great numbers, and many even stayed. It was during this time that Saint Jerome, once of the central figures of early Christianity, traveled to Jerusalem. This influx of Christians swelled further during the reign of Emperor Theodosius, who was crowned emperor in 379 A.D.

Theodosius was a Spaniard and a devout Christian, who was committed to uphold his stringent Orthodoxy throughout the empire. To this end, Theodosius prohibited pagan sacrifice and shut down the pagan shrines and temples. He also ended put an end to the long-running Arian controversy by pronouncing Nicene Christianity the official doctrine of the empire in 381.

The Hostel of Melania and Rufinus

The year of Theodosius’ succession, a focal point of Christianity emerged in Jerusalem: The hostel of Melania and Rufinus on the Mount of Olives.

Melania was a Spanish aristocrat and Christian scholar who adopted a life of asceticism following her husband’s death. She and Rufinus, a friend of Jerome’s, founded a hostel on the Mount of Olives where Christians could seek a life of prayer, atonement and contemplation. Devoted as they were to Nicene Christianity and closely involved in the development of early Christian liturgy, Melania and Rufinus were closely linked with Constantinople.

Christian liturgy was leaving its infant stages during this time. Feast days involved processions, pilgrimages and prayers throughout Jerusalem. During Christmas Week (which commenced on January 6th) pilgrims would make the journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem every day. The life and death of Jesus became a prominent focus of Christian liturgy as it had never been before.

In the month of September, Christians observed the eight day holiday of Enkainia, which celebrated Constantine’s dedication of New Jerusalem and Helena’s discovery of the True Cross. This holiday also happened to coincide with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, or Feast of the Tabernacles, which celebrated Solomon’s dedication of the Jewish Temple.
All this only signified the beginning of Jerusalem’s transformation from a multicultural city to a Christian, Byzantine city.