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The Cathedral of Saint James (Armenian: Սրբոց Յակոբեանց Վանք Հայոց, or Saints Jacobs Armenian Cathedral) is a 12th-century Armenian church in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, near the quarter's entry Zion Gate. The cathedral is dedicated to two Christian saints: James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater) (one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus) and James the brother of Jesus (James the Just). It is located near the Church of the Holy Archangels.

In order to visit the Sts. James Cathedral, you have to enter the main gate of the Armenian Quarter. Immediately after you pass the big iron gate, you turn left, and enter the courtyard to the Cathedral.entranceThe walls of the courtyard are decorated with typical Armenian “Khatchkars” (carved stone crosses), the oldst of which dates from the 12th century. In 2013 two new khatchkars have been added to the coutryard, hewn out of natural red and black stone.
Behind the tracery, where the inner courtyard or narthex begins, are three paintings. The painting above the main entrance represents the Last Judgement; on the left the Apostle St. James the Greater, brother of St. John the Evangelist, and St. James the Less, the brother of Jesus and the first bishop of the Christian community in Jerusalem; and the family of St. Gregory the Illuminator and the family of Catholicos Gregory III Pahlavuni. Also an image of Christ and the Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew can be seen. These Apostles of Christ are the patron Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as they first preached the Gospel in Armenia.

When you enter the cathedral, you can sense the beauty and sanctity of the church. The cathedral is 350 square meters and the dome is 18 meters high. Typical of Armenian architecture are the four square columns. Ahead of you lies the magnificent altar; the center forms the Blessed Virgin with the infant Jesus Christ in her arms. On the left side of that painting is St. James the Less, and on the right side St. John the Baptist, holding the head of St. James the Great near his heart. The main altar is carved out of precious wood and completely covered and inlaid with gilded filigree, made on assignment of Gregory the Chainbearer . In two higher niches in the altar are images of St. Peter and St. Paul; above the altars you can see balconies- which can be reached by stairs, open on special days only.


On the left side of the main altar is the altar of the Blessed Virgin, and on the right side of John the Baptist.
In front of the raised main altar are two thrones. One is the throne on which the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem usually sits during Mass. The other throne, with a dome on top of it, is the Throne of St. James the Less, carved out of precious wood and completely inlaid with mother of pearl. Below the throne was the original grave of St. James, now under the main altar. This throne is used only on two occasions: the enthronement of the Patriarch (which was on June 4, 2013) and the feast of St. James the Less (on January 5).

The church is decorated with blue and white tiles, made by Armenian artists in the 18th century, decorated with Armenian writings and Biblical figures. More than 130 paintings adorn the church, showing scenes from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is known that behind the pictures, covering the walls, were old frescoes; some of them are still visible, for example on the northern wall, depicting our Lord with the Apostles James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

In the western part of the church, when you enter St. James on your left side, is the Chapel of St. Macarius, who held the Holy Cross found by the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, St. Helena.
A bit further is the Chapel of St. Minas, were two altars are erected in memory of the martyrs St. Minas of Alexandria, and St. Sarkis. The chapel also houses many staffs of bishops and archimandrites of Jerusalem. On the feast days of the two abovementioned saints the chapel is opened.

A bit more forward is the Burial Vault of the Apostle St. James the Greater. The entrance is richly decorated, and has a dome above its entrance. Under the altar the spot is marked, where the Blessed Virgin buried the head of the Apostle James. Six oil lamps are always burning, and on Saturdays Holy Liturgy is held here.

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