Abbey of Saint Mary of the Valley of Jehosaphat

The Abbey of Saint Mary of the Valley of Jehosaphat was a Benedictine abbey located east of Jerusalem's Old City, established by Godfrey of Bouillon on the site traditionally believed to be the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. It was constructed near a Byzantine church housing the shrine of Mary's Assumption and managed several nearby religious sites, including the Church of Saint Mary, the Grotto of the Agony, and the Church of Gethsemane.

In 1112, Arnulf of Chocques renovated the abbey church. Queen Morphia was buried there, initiating a tradition where Jerusalem's queens were interred separately from their husbands, who were buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Baldwin II later appointed his cousin Gilduin of Le Puiset as abbot. The abbey became a significant burial site for queens, with Melisende among those entombed there.

The abbey was documented by early travelers such as John of Würzburg and an unknown monk named Theoderich in their travel accounts. It played a crucial role in the Christian community of Jerusalem, managing key religious sites and serving as a burial place for prominent figures.