As the director of Notre Dame explains, the complex was built in the 1880's in order to increase the flow of pilgrims to Jerusalem, and was part of an area called the "French Compound". The French "Notre Dame," which means "Our Lady," is a reference to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have been assumed into heaven in Jerusalem. The structure was built on a 400-square-meter plot that was bought by the Count of Piellat, and combined classical and modernist architecture with a touch of eastern motifs thrown in for good measure. In 1893, five years after Notre Dame received its first pilgrims, the cornerstone for the chapel was laid. And in 1904, after 20 years of unceasing construction, the marvelous nave was completed and the outside of the church was crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary.
During the War of Independence the building sustained heavy damage; a part of it was destroyed by explosions and became a guard post. However, even after the situation quieted down, the center could no longer cope with the prohibitive maintenance costs, and was eventually turned over to the Vatican. Pope John Paul VI took the project under his wing, and in the late 1970's, Notre Dame reopened as the Holy See's international pilgrim center. These days, Notre Dame is mostly used as a boutique guesthouse for pilgrims, who often attend the daily mass at 6:30 pm.
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