Pater Noster Church – Where Jesus Taught the Lord’s Prayer

A peaceful Mount of Olives church where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer, surrounded by tiled inscriptions in over 140 languages.

Overview

On the Mount of Olives, not far from the Chapel of the Ascension, stands the Pater Noster Church, a sacred site commemorating the place where Jesus is believed to have taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer. The current church was built in the late 19th century over the remains of a 4th-century basilica commissioned by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine. Its peaceful cloisters and gardens offer a reflective atmosphere, in striking contrast to the busy city below.

The church is famous for its walls lined with more than 140 ceramic plaques displaying the Lord’s Prayer in different languages, a powerful symbol of Christianity’s universality and enduring message. Beneath the church are ancient grottoes, long associated with Jesus’ teachings and with the early Christian community in Jerusalem.

Spiritual & Cultural Significance

For Christians, the Pater Noster Church represents the heart of prayer and discipleship. The words “Our Father” have united believers for two millennia, and pilgrims often pray the Lord’s Prayer aloud in their own language while standing among the tiled inscriptions.

The site also reflects Jerusalem’s layered history: Byzantine foundations, Crusader ruins, and the 19th-century reconstruction all testify to its enduring importance. Today, it continues to welcome visitors from across the world, symbolizing both the universality of Christianity and the rootedness of faith in the Holy Land.

Highlights & Experiences

Walk through serene cloisters and gardens, a refuge of peace and prayer.

Read the Lord’s Prayer in 140+ languages, from Arabic to Zulu.

Descend to ancient grottoes, linked with Jesus’ teachings and early Christians.

Explore Byzantine and Crusader remains within the complex.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer aloud, joining centuries of Christian devotion.

Visitor Information

  • Location: Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
  • Hours: Mon–Sat 8:30 am–12:00 pm; 2:30–5:00 pm (closed Sundays)
  • Admission: Around 10 NIS
  • Tel: +972 2-628-3143
  • Suggested Tour Integration: Pair with the Chapel of the Ascension, then continue down the mount to Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemane.