Church of our Lady of the Arc of Covenant in Abu Gosh

Not far away from the Benedictine Monastery of Abu Gosh, at the town’s north-west edge, one detects an impressive statue of the Madonna and Child. This statue stands on the roof of the Church of our Lady of the Arc of Covenant. The church itself, situated at the height of 750 meters above sea level, stands on top of the ancient Mound of Kiryat Ye'arim, overlooking the views of the whole area. On this mound the Byzantines built a church which was destroyed in 614 when the Persians conquered the country. A few decades later it was restored and it survived until the beginning of the 11th century. Since then it was forgotten. In 1912 a convent and a church were built here by the order of St.Joseph de l'Apparition. The church’s design is pleasantly simple and the white color resides over a great part of its interior. Arches, pillars with capitals and a wooden ceiling featuring images of angels are a wonderful and vibrant setting.