Talk:Abbey of Saint Mary of the Valley of Jehosaphat

What happened to it?
Why does the article say that it ‘was’ a church? There’s a modern photo in the article so it appears to still be there. GavinH (talk) 16:26, 23 November 2019 (UTC)


 * The curch is (whole? In part?), the abbey isn't. Arminden (talk) 16:14, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

Jehoshaphat, with sh
That's how Pringle calls it. Arminden (talk) 16:13, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

Missing topics
There is nothing useful in this or the (miserable) Tomb of Mary art. about the history of the Crusader buildings: Arminden (talk) 23:22, 5 October 2023 (UTC)
 * 1) What did they inherit from before? What did they build? Was there, or did they actually build an upper church (Murphy-O'Connor says they did), or did they make do with cutting a stepped passage to the Byzantine crypt, adding just a small facade in front of the first step?
 * 2) What did Saladin remove from the church itself, what not, and did he repurpose it, or keep it open for prayer for both Muslims and Christians?
 * 3) Who (when) built the mihrab?
 * 4) Was the still extant entrance with the mini-facade around it part of the Crusader upper church, or was it below the upper church? Was it always serving just as an entrance to the crypt/lower church? Where was the natural ground level  in the 12th c. compared to today and to the 1st c.?
 * 5) What were the "footprints" of the ancient churches vs the crypt's? Is anything known, have the various foundations been found?
 * 6) What happened in 1187 and after to the Crusader structures apart from the church (the abbey compound)? What about the grotto?
 * 7) Was there any 14th c. rebuilding by the Franciscans, or did they just refurbish & maybe reconsecrate?