| Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America | |
|---|---|
 Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America (2006) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Washington |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Friary/Monastery |
| Location | |
| Location | 1400 Quincy St. N.E. Washington, D.C.,United States |
 Interactive map of Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America | |
| Coordinates | 38°56′15″N76°59′07″W / 38.9375°N 76.9853°W /38.9375; -76.9853 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Aristide Leonori |
| Type | Friary |
| Style | Neo-Byzantine |
| Groundbreaking | 1898; 127 years ago (1898) |
| Completed | 1899; 126 years ago (1899) |
| U.S.National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added toNRHP | 17 January 1992 |
Franciscan Monastery and Memorial Church of the Holy Land | |
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| Coordinates | 38°56′15″N76°59′7.1″W / 38.93750°N 76.985306°W /38.93750; -76.985306 |
| Area | 44 acres (18 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001943[1] |
| Website | |
| www.myfranciscan.org | |
TheFranciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America[2][3] is aFranciscan complex[nb 1] at 14th and Quincy Streets in theBrookland neighborhood ofNortheastWashington, D.C. Located on a hill called Mount Saint Sepulcher,[5] and anchored by the Memorial Church of the Holy Sepulcher,[3] it includes gardens, replicas of variousshrines throughoutPalestine, a replica of thecatacombs inRome, an archive, a library, as well as bones ofSaint Benignus of Armagh, brought from theRoman catacombs and originally in thecathedral ofNarni,Italy.
The Very Reverend Charles A. Vassani (1831–1896) established the U.S.Commissariat of the Holy Land in 1880, in New York City. It was from this location that Rev. Vassani and Father Godfrey Schilling, O.F.M. (1855–1934) began to plan to build a "Holy Land in America" and a Holy Sepulcher. They envisioned building on a high hill onStaten Island, overlooking the entrance to New York's harbor. These plans were later dropped. Eventually the plans changed to a wooded hilltop inBrookland, Washington, D.C. In 1897, Fr. Godfrey purchased the McCeeney Estate in Brookland in order to found a monastery and church.
The six Brothers lived in the abandoned McCeeney house. After purchasing the site, Fr. Schilling visited the Holy Land and took measurements and photographs of the Holy Sites. In February 1898, ground was broken, and the cornerstone was laid on theSaint Joseph's Day.
Construction of the holy shrines, gardens, and Rosary Portico continued for several years. The Church was consecrated in September 1924, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its dedication.[6]
In January 1992, the "Franciscan Monastery and Memorial Church of the Holy Land" was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[5]
In 2022, the Archdiocese set the site as the sole designated location for Sunday celebration theTridentine Mass within the city of Washington.[7]
The Memorial Church of the Holy Sepulcher was designed by the architectAristide Leonori.[3] The cornerstone was laid in 1898 and construction completed in 1899. The church's design alludes to theChurch of the Holy Sepulchre inJerusalem. Its floor plan loosely resembles the fivefoldJerusalem cross. It was also built in theneo-Byzantine style, resemblingHagia Sophia in Constantinople.[nb 2] Some Romanesque influences were added to the design.
The Rosary Portico designed byJohn Joseph Earley surrounds the church. It contains fifteen chapels depicting the mysteries of the Rosary. Each chapel contains plaques bearing theHail Mary in nearly two hundred ancient and modern languages. The Rosary Portico resembles the Cloister ofSt. John Lateran in Rome andSaint Paul's Outside the Walls. Various Christian symbols from the catacombs decorate the facade.
Attached to the Church is theneo-Romanesque Monastery. The Monastery grounds contain replicas of shrines in the Holy Land, aLourdes grotto, and a replica of thePorziuncola.
Many artists and architects have contributed to the development of the site.[9]
The Library and Archives contain various materials on the Holy Land and the early development of the monastery, monastery life and a large collection of vestments.[citation needed]
A Lively-Fulcher organ was installed in 2003[10] which replaced the Henry Pilcher Sons Opus 1481.[11] There are monthly recitals.
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