| What makes it historical? |
In the 19th century, European Protestants started to take more of an interest in the Holy Land, and among them was Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, later known as Kaiser Wilhelm I! In 1869, he obtained some land in a section of Jerusalem long ago deeded to Charlemagne and set to building a church for German speakers over the ruined Crusader-era Church of Santa Maria Latina. During excavations, his builders thought they found the ancient wall of Jerusalem, which would have put the church very close to the original site of the Crucifixion, though this was later found to be a Roman wall built after tha event.
Nevertheless, this Romanesque Revival church designed by Friedrich Adler became known as the Church of the Redeemer and was dedicated in 1898 with a grand procession involving Kaiser Wilhelm II and his wife riding into Jerusalem on white horses. They were the first European rulers to personally visit Jerusalem (even the Crusader Richard I never actually made it into the city)! |
