Historical Sketch: The Location of the Upper Room

Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read

THE LOCATION OF THE UPPER ROOM

by Kristen West McGuire

The Upper Room served as a hiding place for the apostles in the days immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. Understandably, they thought they might be next in line on Pontius Pilate’s hit list. Then, it was a place to ponder and praise the resurrection of Jesus. Small wonder Christians over the centuries have zealously sought out the actual room!

Like many sites in the Holy Land, the building is sacred to Jews and Muslims as well. King David’s Tomb rests in the basement. Damage during the war for Israeli independence allowed archaeologist Jacob Pinkerfeld to excavate the site while repairing it, and he found five different levels of flooring.

The Upper Room has endured a variety of foundations. Pinkerfeld first found a 12th-century Crusader floor, just beneath the marble slabs. A mosaic floor with geometric designs dating to the Byzantine period rested about eighteen inches below that. A mere four inches lower, the remains of the original Roman floor were revealed, constructed at the end of the first century.

The original building appears to have been a Judeo-Christian synagogue, abandoned when Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Almost the entire city was left in ruins. When Emperor Hadrian visited some years later, he reported that only the neighborhood on Mount Zion survived, including a small “Church of the Apostles,” which was supposedly built atop the original Upper Room.

Byzantine Emperor Theodosius the Great erected a larger church, Hagia Zion, in the late fourth century, built on top of the older ruins. Bishop John II of Jerusalem elevated it to Basilica status in 415. The Persian army destroyed most of the land’s churches, including Holy Zion, in the early seventh century. After the Persian withdrawal, the Christians rebuilt it, but in the early 11th century an apocalyptic caliph from Egypt flattened it again.

When the Crusaders rebuilt it, they combined the Church of the Apostles and the Church of the Pillars (built to honor the final resting place of Mary the Blessed Virgin), naming the new church St. Mary of Mount Zion. The building housing the Upper Room and King David’s Tomb is separate from Dormition Abbey, but their underlying foundations link up with the ancient ones described above.

Tourists visiting the Upper Room today find a large room with three naves, and gothic style columns worthy of the Crusaders who constructed them. A Muslim mihrab points the direction of Mecca for daily prayer, reminding the visitor of the many occupants of the building over the centuries. Several yeshiva schools (for the study of the Torah) dot the neighborhood, in honor of the Davidic lineage housed below.

Each successive construction to honor the birthplace of Christian joy had a unique character. It is somehow fitting that, 2000 years later, the Upper Room and its basement burial chamber draws thousands of tourists each year. (Or used to, before the conflict in Gaza put a damper on such trips.) King David symbolized the messianic hope of the Jews, and the Upper Room became for Christians a witness to the answer to those prayers.

Discussion Questions:

1. In the Upper Room, the disciples first were told that Jesus had risen, by St. Mary Magdalene. Only later would the Holy Spirit fall on the apostles in this same room. Have you ever experienced a life changing moment that caused you to carry forward the memory of a place?

2. The disciples didn’t believe Mary Magdalene until they encountered the Risen Lord themselves. This is very common – and a good reminder to us that conversion truly is inspired by Jesus himself. Have you ever questioned the veracity of someone’s conversion? Or, experienced others questioning your faith? How did you respond?

3. Jesus revealed his resurrection first to a woman…in the tomb. Do you believe women have a special gift for prophecy? Can you give any examples from your personal experiences?