Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel
The Cenacle (Upper Room)
The traditional site of the Last Supper and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
The room is bare. That is the first thing that hits you. No altar, no icons, no furnishings — just a vaulted Gothic ceiling held up by two slim columns, stone walls, and a few small windows. It does not look like a church. It looks like an emptied-out medieval hall, which is basically what it is. The Crusaders built the current structure in the twelfth century over what earlier Christians identified as the room where Jesus shared his last meal with the apostles and where the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost. The space has changed hands many times — Christians, Muslims, Ottomans — and each group left marks. An Islamic prayer niche sits in the south wall. A carved stone capital shows a pelican feeding its young with its own blood, a medieval symbol for Christ. The room is upstairs, reached by an outdoor stone staircase. Downstairs is a cenotaph traditionally associated with King David's tomb, a separate holy site. The emptiness of the Upper Room actually works in its favor. There is nothing to distract you from what happened here — bread broken, wine poured, feet washed, and fifty days later, fire and wind.
Diocese: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Style: Crusader Gothic
What to See
The room itself is the thing to see. Stand in the center and look at the two columns supporting the Gothic vaults — the capitals have carvings that most visitors walk past, including the pelican symbol. The mihrab in the south wall is a reminder of the centuries when this was a mosque. The windows are small and the light is subdued. There is no furniture and no altar, so you have to use your imagination to picture the long table, the thirteen men, and the basin of water. Downstairs, the cenotaph of King David is a separate site and usually has its own line. The rooftop above the Cenacle offers a wide view of Jerusalem if you can find access.
Pilgrim Notes
The Cenacle is on Mount Zion, a short walk from the Zion Gate of the Old City. It is open daily and free to visit. Because it is administered as a historic site rather than a church, Mass is not regularly celebrated here, though special liturgies are occasionally permitted. The room is small and tour groups can fill it quickly, so visit early. The staircase is outdoors and exposed to sun. Nearby sites include the Church of the Dormition (Hagia Maria Sion Abbey) and Oskar Schindler's grave in the Christian cemetery on the slope. Modest dress is expected.