Russian Compound facts for kids
The Russian Compound is one of the oldest areas in central Jerusalem. It has a large Russian Orthodox church, the Sergei's Courtyard (which belongs to Russia), and the Russian Consulate General in Jerusalem. It also used to have places for pilgrims to stay. Some of these buildings are now used by the Israeli government, like the Moscovia Detention Centre. One building is now the Museum of Underground Prisoners.
This compound was built between 1860 and 1890. The Nikolai Pilgrims Hospice was added in 1903. It was one of the first big buildings outside the Old City of Jerusalem. The Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design is right next to it.
The Russian Compound covers about 68 acres. It is located between Jaffa Road, Shivtei Israel Street, and the Street of the Prophets. After 1890, it was surrounded by a wall with gates, which is why it's called a "compound." But now, it's a public area in the city center. In 2008, the Israeli government agreed to give Sergei's Courtyard back to the Russian government.
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History of the Russian Compound
The Russian Compound is a very old and important area. It was once a parade ground for Turkish soldiers during the Ottoman Empire. It was first called “New Jerusalem.”
The hill where the compound stands was always important. Armies used it to gather forces before trying to take Jerusalem. For example, the Assyrians used it in 700 BC. Roman troops led by Titus also used it in 70 AD.
Why it was Built
The compound was built from 1860 to 1864. It was started by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society. They wanted to help the many Russian pilgrims visiting the Holy City.
A Russian architect named Martin Ivanovich Eppinger designed it. The compound included a mission, a consulate, a hospital, and places for pilgrims to stay.
British Rule
Later, the compound became a main center for the British Mandate government. The women's hostel became the main prison. Today, it is a museum. It tells the story of people who were held there. These included members of groups like the Irgun and Lehi.
In the 1960s, the Israeli government bought most of the Russian Compound. The Holy Trinity Cathedral and Sergei Courtyard were not sold. For many years, the compound was a popular spot for nightlife. But the city has recently closed the nightclubs. They plan to make it a living area. The city hall, Safra Square, is also next to the compound.
Pilgrims and the Compound
After Russians became Christians, they started visiting the Holy Land. By the 1800s, thousands of Russian pilgrims came each year. Many came for Easter. The Russian Orthodox Church sent more pilgrims than any other group. Some even walked all the way from Russia.
The Russian Compound began to grow in the early 1800s. The first hospital for pilgrims outside the Old City opened there. It also had a market where local sellers could offer goods to pilgrims. In 1847, the first Russian Church Mission came to Jerusalem. Its goal was to guide pilgrims and help Orthodox Arab people in Palestine and Syria.
In 1858, the entire area was sold to the Russian Empire. Czar Alexander II was worried about Russian pilgrims. So, the Russian state and church built many hostels, monasteries, and churches. The large Russian Compound was one of them. It was built north of the Old City. The location was chosen because it was close to the Old City and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Building the Compound
From 1860 to 1864, several buildings were constructed. The Marianskaya Women's Hospice was built in the northeast. The Russian consulate was in the southeast. A hospital was in the southwest. The Russian Orthodox religious mission had its home there too. It had rooms for priests and wealthy pilgrims. The large Elizabeth Men's Hospice was in the northwest. It could hold about 2,000 pilgrims. Sometimes, tents were needed for all the visitors. The Holy Trinity Cathedral was finished in 1872. It became the main building of the Compound.
The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society supported this huge project. Martin Ivanovich Eppinger designed the buildings. His designs were inspired by Byzantine architecture. All building materials and furniture came from Russia. A special shipping line brought them, along with many pilgrims. The large courtyards had stables, chicken coops, wells, and a laundry.
In 1889, the Sergei Imperial Hospice was finished. It was built by George Franghia, an engineer from Jerusalem. This building offered 25 fancy rooms for "rich and honorable guests." It was on a 9-acre plot next to the main compound. Grand Duke Sergei, brother of Tsar Alexander III, ordered its construction. Newspapers called it "one of the most marvellous buildings in the city."
World War I and After
World War I stopped everything. All Russian priests and staff were sent away from Palestine. All churches were closed. Turkish soldiers took over the Russian Compound. When the communists came to power in the Soviet Union, fewer Russian pilgrims came to Jerusalem. The October Revolution also stopped money for the Compound. Most buildings were rented to the British.
British Mandate Period
In 1917, the British took over Palestine from the Ottomans. They ruled until 1948. The Russian Compound became a main base for the British in Jerusalem. It was a center for government offices. Local people were told to leave their shops and offices. The Russian buildings became government offices. They held police headquarters, courts, and the Immigration Office.
The women's hostel became Jerusalem's central prison. This happened because Jewish underground groups like the Haganah, Palmach, Lehi, and Irgun became more active. Many of their members were jailed there.
In 1931, the British asked the chief rabbi to visit the prisoners. Rabbi Aryeh Levine became known as the "Rabbi of the Prisoners." Every Sabbath, he walked to the Russian Compound. He held services with the prisoners and kept them company. He was called the "tzaddik" (a very righteous person) of Jerusalem.
After World War II, the British army built "security zones" in big cities. In Jerusalem, one main zone was in the Russian Compound. It was fenced off with barbed wire. Only people with ID cards could enter. Jewish underground groups called it "Bevingrad." This name came from the British foreign minister, Ernest Bevin, who was against Zionism.
The British started executing Jewish prisoners. In 1947, two prisoners, Meir Feinstein and Moshe Barazani, used a hidden hand grenade to take their own lives. This happened the night before they were to be executed.
When the last British soldiers left Jerusalem in 1948, Irgun fighters took over nearby buildings. Then, they moved to the Russian Compound. Many Irgun members had been held in the prison there. They felt proud to return as victors.
On May 15, 1948, during the 1948 Palestine war, the Haganah captured the compound. They had help from the Etzel and Lehi. This event was called Operation Kilshon.
State of Israel
In 1948, the Soviet Union recognized the state of Israel. Israel then gave all Russian church properties back to the Moscow Patriarch. This included the Russian Compound. In 1964, the Israeli government bought most of the property. They paid $3.5 million worth of oranges. At that time, Israel did not have much foreign money.
The Jerusalem municipality (city government) was built here. The Safra Square is next to it. Today, the compound is still used as an Israeli lock-up. Families of prisoners can be seen waiting outside. The Ministry of Agriculture, courts, and Jerusalem's police headquarters are in other buildings.
For many years, the Russian Compound was a center for nightlife. The city has now closed the pubs and bars. They plan to make it a new business and culture area. Plans include a circular plaza around the cathedral. There will also be a shopping center. The historic buildings will be renovated.
A new campus for the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design opened in 2023. This was a key part of the area's renewal. In 2006, a competition was held to design the new campus. It aims to connect students with the city center. This will bring a student and artistic population to the area.
In October 2008, the Israeli government agreed to give Sergei's Courtyard back to Russia. This building was originally part of the Russian compound. It had housed offices for Israel's Agriculture Ministry. These offices moved in March 2011.
In 2023, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design moved most of its students and teachers. They moved to a new building next to the compound. It is 460,000 square feet.
Buildings of the Compound
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the main church in the Russian Compound. People from the Russian Empire donated money to build it. Construction began in 1860. The church was officially opened in 1872. Its main hall, dome, and two aisles are painted blue with orange colors. They show many pictures of saints. The church has four bell towers. It is known as one of Jerusalem's special churches.
Sergei Courtyard
The Sergei Courtyard is a building with a Renaissance style tower. It is named after Grand Prince Sergei. He was the brother of Tsar Alexander III. He was also the head of the Russian Orthodox Palestine Society. Architect George Franghia finished it in 1889. It was built for pilgrims from the Russian nobility. It was called "Sergei Imperial Hospice."
It covered 9 acres of land. It was made entirely of cut stone. Its 25 luxurious rooms were for noble guests. Newspapers called it "one of the most marvellous buildings in the city." A local bank, Jacob Valero and Company, helped pay for it. During British rule, it was used for public works and passport offices. After Israel was formed, the Israeli government took it over. Until 2008, it held offices for the Agriculture Ministry. In 2008, Israel gave the Sergei Courtyard back to Russia.
Duhovnia
This long building is south of the cathedral. It is near the new city hall. It was built in 1863 as a hospice. It also held the offices of the Russian church mission, called Duhovnia. This building housed all of Jerusalem's courts. This included the Israeli Supreme Court until 1992. Now, it is only used for lower courts. The Russian Mission still has an office there. But its main center is now on the Mount of Olives.
Southern Gate
The Southern Gate is between the mission and the hospital. It is on Safra Square. It was built in 1890 as part of the compound's wall. It was moved about 50 meters south of its original spot. This was done for the Safra Square Project and the new City Hall.
Hospital
The hospital is located at 13 Safra Square.
Russian Consulate
The Russian Consulate is on Shivtei Yisraʾel Street. It is behind the city hall complex. It was built in stages starting in 1860. It mixes European and local building styles. From 1953 to 1973, it housed the pharmacy school of the Hebrew University. Later, it became laboratories.
Elisabeth Courtyard Hospice for Men
This building was constructed in 1864. It was a hostel for about 300 pilgrims. It is on Monbaz Street today. Above the entrance, there is an inscription. It says "Elisabeth Courtyard." It also shows the symbol of the Imperial Russian Orthodox Palestine Society. This building now holds the police headquarters.
Northern Gate
The Northern Gate is across from the Sergei Building. The compound was surrounded by a wall with two main gates. These were built in 1890. Only one of the two northern gatehouses is left. The other was taken down in the 1970s. The symbol of the Imperial Russian Orthodox Palestine Society is on its front.
Marianskaya Courtyard Hospice for Women
This hostel was for Russian women pilgrims. It is at 1 Misheol Hagvurah Street. It was built in 1864 in the Neoclassical style. On the front, there is a Russian inscription. It means "Marianskaya women's hospice." The symbol of the Imperial Russian Orthodox Palestine Society is above the entrance. It had long hallways and separate rooms. This made it good for a hostel or a prison. The British used it as a prison during their rule.
Many prisoners, both regular criminals and political prisoners, were held here. The building now houses the Underground Prisoners Museum. The barbed wire fence, bars, and "Central Prison Jerusalem" sign are from the British time.
Nikolai Courtyard – Pilgrims Hospice
In 1903, another hospice for Russian pilgrims was built. It was named the Nikolai Pilgrims Hospice, after Tsar Nicholas II. It was large enough for 1,200 guests. During the British Mandate, part of it was used as a police headquarters and government offices. Later, it was the British intelligence headquarters. The Jewish underground group Irgun blew it up twice in 1945.
Archaeology in the Compound
In front of the police headquarters, there is a huge stone column. It is from either the Second Temple or the Byzantine period. This column was found in 1871. Long ago, there was a quarry here. This column is a leftover from it. It is 12 meters (about 39 feet) long. It broke while being cut and was left in the rock. People think it was meant for the Herodian Temple or a building from the 300s AD. People often call it the "Finger of Og".
Recent digs show that Jerusalem's old "Third Wall" might have reached the Russian Compound. This wall was built by Agrippa I. A newly found part of a wall is 6.2 feet (about 1.9 meters) wide. It had many large ballista stones (stones shot from a type of crossbow) and sling stones. Pottery found there also suggests this battlefield is from Roman times. They also found parts of a watchtower along the wall.
See also
In Spanish: Complejo Ruso de Jerusalén para niños
