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Sites and Attractions

The Cathedral of Saint James

The Cathedral of Saint James, or the Cathedral of Saint Jacob, is a 12th century Armenian church located in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City. Named after St Jacob, who was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, the church is built on the site where he was executed by order of King Herod I.

Saint James is the patron saint of Spain since, according to legend, the Virgin appeared to James while he was preaching the Gospel in Iberia. After his martyrdom, disciples of Saint James took his remains back to Iberia where they are now supposedly buried at the Compostella de Santiago in Galicia - the journey with his remains itself a series of miracles that venerate the martyr further.

The cathedral was built in the 12th century, its architecture and art displaying the confluence of Armenian, early Christian and gothic styles.

Address: Armenian Quarter, Old City
Entrance hours are restricted.