Church of Saint George, Lod

St. George is a Greek Orthodox church in Lod in Israel. It represents the partially reconstructed Cathedral of the Crusaders, which was erected over the grave of St. George.

History

The Cathedral of the Crusaders was preceded by a Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture on the presumed site of the martyrdom of St. George, which was destroyed by Caliph al -Hakim in 1010. After the conquest of the region by the crusade army in 1099 a double diocese was erected in Lod under the name of Lydda and Ramla. However, it was the Bishop not the newly-built Basilica of St. John in Ramla, but the new St. George's Church in Lod.

St. George was built as a three-aisled basilica with four bays and subsequent choir bay, took its final shape in the 12th century. The Georg grave was located in front of the main central apse. The two side aisles joined with smaller apses. The sanctuary was outside just closed in a line. The Basilica was designed as a fortified church and held a siege in 1177 by the Ayyubid state. After the conquest by Saladin in 1191 Lods the western bays of the church were destroyed, where is the courtyard of a mosque to this day.

In 1870 it came to a dispute between the Franciscans and the Orthodox, who should own the rights to the church. Due to the Ottoman authorities of St. George was finally awarded to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The St. George's Church was partially reconstructed. Could be included in the new temple, the central apse, the northern side of the apse and the four northeastern yoke of the Crusader church, so the most recent yoke of the nave and the northern aisle and the corresponding choir bays.