Jerusalem - Monastery of Constantine

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Street in Jerusalem has the Patriarchate along its right-hand side. Opposite it is the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Constantine, which contains valuable icons. In a small museum in the monastery is the slender sarcophagus, with a decoration of plant ornament and rosettes on the front, of Queen Mariamne, who was murdered by her husband Herod I in 29 B.C. It was brought here from the Herodian family tomb near the King David Hotel, along with another sarcophagus, during the Second World War. To the north of the monastery there once stood the palace occupied by the kings of Jerusalem after they made over their original residence, the El-Aqsa Mosque, to the Templars. Turning left at the end of Christian Quarter Street, we enter the Roman Catholic (Latin) quarter. After passing the Terra Sancta Church (on right) we come, beyond the intersection with a street leading to the New Gate, to the Latin Patriarchate, immediately behind the town walls. From here a series of narrow lanes lead towards David Street, which is reached opposite the Citadel, at the Jaffa Gate.