Room of the Last Supper
The Room of the Last Supper, also known as the Cenacle or the Upper Room, holds great religious and historical significance in Christianity. It is traditionally believed to be the site where Jesus and his disciples gathered for the Last Supper, a crucial event in Christian theology.
Room of the Last Supper in the Gospels
The Last Supper is one of the most important events in Christian Theology and the source of its eucharistic liturgy. The Gospels record how Jesus and the disciples gathered on the eve of Passover for the ceremonial meal. During that feast, Jesus declared over the unleavened bread, “Take and eat; this is my body”. Later, when drinking the wine, he added, “This is my blood” (Luke 22). This sacred event is the basis for one of the primary sacraments in Catholic liturgy, the Mass.
History of the Room of the Last Supper
In the 14th century, a medieval structure’s second floor on Mount Zion was identified as the site of the Last Supper. In the Ottoman period the building was turned into a mosque and access to Christians was highly restricted. After the 1948 Israeli-Arab war the Room of the Last Supper became open for all visitors.
Visiting the Room of the Last Supper
The Room of the Last Supper is open daily, free of charge, from 8:00 to 17:45. Its interior showcases Gothic style architecture, with rib-vaulted ceiling and reliefs bearing Christian symbols.
A visit to the Room of the Last Supper can be integrated into a day tour of Jerusalem.
