CHURCH BUILDING
Saint Stephen’s Basilica (Saint-Étienne)
Jerusalem · Roman Catholic · Dominican
- Locality
- Jerusalem
- Tradition
- Roman Catholic · Dominican
- Type of place
- CHURCH BUILDING
- Coordinates
- 31.78511° N, 35.23004° E
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History: Saint Stephen’s Basilica (Saint-Étienne)
Saint Stephen’s Basilica, also known as Saint-Étienne, stands just north of Jerusalem’s Old City walls, beside the convent that houses the French Biblical and Archaeological School. An old tradition places here the martyrdom of Stephen, the deacon whose death is told in Acts 7. Empress Eudocia built a chapel on the site in the fifth century and was buried there; it was destroyed in 614. French Dominicans later excavated the ruins and built the present basilica, consecrated in 1900.
An interesting detail
A rival tradition, of later origin, places Stephen’s martyrdom in the Kidron Valley instead.
Bible connections
Acts 7 tells of Stephen’s stoning outside the city; this location is identified by tradition.