Emperor Justinian and the Nea Church

Procopius

Buildings 5.6

ca. 560

Such were the works of the Emperor Justinian in Cilicia. And in Jerusalem he dedicated to the Mother of God a shrine with which no other can be compared. This is called by the natives the “New Church”; and I shall explain of what sort it is, first making this observation, that this city is for the most part set upon hills; however these hills have…

Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

The emperor Justinian (r. 527–565 CE) is associated with what is considered the third great wave of early Byzantine building projects in Palestine. In the aftermath of a Samaritan revolt in 529 CE, Justinian initiated a campaign to construct new churches and monasteries as part of a continuing effort to increase pilgrimages to lands sacred to Byzantine Christians. In 543 CE, he dedicated the Nea Church to the Virgin Mary. Emperor Justinian’s court historian, Procopius of Caesarea, provides a description of the construction process.

Read more
Black-and-white photo of a large amphitheater, showing its ancient stone arches and partial ruin. The large amphitheater stands alone, with some missing sections and an empty foreground.
Tooltip info icon

Related Guide

The Late Roman Period in History and Memory

3rd–6th Centuries
Restricted
Some content is unavailable to non-members, please log in or sign up for free for full access.

Related Guide

Christianizing, Dechristianizing, and Rechristianizing Jerusalem in the Late Roman Period

4th–6th Centuries

Jerusalem’s religious identity evolved from a Roman colony into a Byzantine Christian center, despite Emperor Julian’s brief attempt to rebuild the Jewish Temple.

Creator Bio

Procopius

ca. 500–ca. 565
Procopius, a historian from Caesarea Maritima, wrote several significant histories, including History of the Wars, Buildings, and Secret History. Many of his accounts detail the wars during the reign of Justinian, who was the emperor of Rome between 527 and 565.

You may also like

Constantine’s New Jerusalem

Such was the situation when another memorable work of great importance was done in the province of Palestine by the Godbeloved [Constantine I]. It was this. He decided that he ought to make…
View Source

Julian Pretends to Love the Jews

And all these events took place, he asserts, for the purpose of testing and choosing out the saints, that they might be made white until the time before appointed, inasmuch as victory was deferred…
View Source
A detailed ancient mosaic map with Greek inscriptions, showing a walled city with buildings, streets, and landmarks, using earth-toned tiles. The map features intricate patterns and labeled areas throughout.
Tooltip info icon

Madaba Map

This map is the oldest extant map of Jerusalem and the land of Israel. The cartographic depiction is part of a larger floor mosaic that was discovered in 1884 in the ruins of an early Byzantine church…
View Source