Bordering the Old City’s Zion gate from the outside, Mount Zion holds immense significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Though not the highest point geographically, it has become a symbolic peak, woven into the fabric of the city and its faiths.

The biblical location of Mount Zion was originally the eastern hill – today the location of the site “City of David” – where King David established his capital Jerusalem for the first time, around 3000 years ago. The book of Psalms depict it as God’s mountain, a place of beauty and stability. Ironically, the name “Mount Zion” shifted later in history to dwell in its current location.

This later Mount Zion (in the current location) was a bustling neighborhood in Jesus’ time. Early Christians gathered here, even building a unique Judaeo-Christian house of worship. Several pivotal moments in Christian tradition are believed to have occurred here, such as the Last Supper and the event of Pentecost.

Mount Zion also holds significance for Muslims.  Islam reveres King David as a prophet (the same as for Jesus), and legend tells of the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s fury when Jerusalem’s walls were built without encompassing David’s supposed tomb.

Today, visitors to Mount Zion can explore various sites that reflect its rich history.  The Dormition Abbey, the Armenian Monastery of St. Saviour, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu are all further testaments to the mountain’s religious importance. The traditional Tomb of King David, while not his factually proven burial place, remains a revered spot.  

A visit to Mount Zion is a journey through time and faith, offering a glimpse into the stories that have shaped Jerusalem’s soul.