Ancient Pipe Organ Revived After 800 Years in Jerusalem

Sat Sep 13 2025 11:21:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Researchers have restored what is believed to be the oldest pipe organ in the Christian world, finally bringing it back to life after centuries of silence. The historic instrument, discovered in Bethlehem, now plays liturgical music once again.

A remarkable restoration project has led to the revival of a pipe organ dating back to the 11th century, believed to be the oldest in the Christian tradition. Located in Jerusalem's Saint Saviour’s Monastery, the organ produced its first sounds in 800 years during a performance by musician David Catalunya. Originally buried by Crusaders to protect it from invaders, it was discovered in 1906 during construction work. The project aims not only to restore the organ but also to replicate it for wider access to its music.

JERUSALEM (AP) — After 800 years of silence, a pipe organ that researchers say is the oldest in the Christian world roared back to life on Tuesday, its ancient sound echoing through a monastery in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Composed of original pipes from the 11th century, the instrument emitted a full, hearty sound as musician David Catalunya played a liturgical chant called Benedicamus Domino Flos Filius. The swell of music inside Saint Saviour’s Monastery mingled with church bells tolling in the distance.

Before unveiling the instrument, Catalunya told a news conference that attendees were witnessing a grand development in the history of music. “This organ was buried with the hope that one day it would play again,” he said. “And the day has arrived, nearly eight centuries later.”

From now on, the organ will be housed at the Terra Sancta museum in Jerusalem’s Old City — just kilometers from the Bethlehem church where it originally sounded.

Researchers believe that the Crusaders brought the organ to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, in the 11th century during their rule over Jerusalem. After a century of use, the Crusaders buried it to protect it from invading Muslim armies. It was unearthed in 1906 when workers building a new Franciscan hospice discovered it in an ancient cemetery.

Once complete excavations were conducted, archaeologists uncovered 222 bronze pipes, a set of bells, and other objects hidden by the Crusaders. It was extremely moving to hear how some of these pipes came to life again after about 700 years under the earth and 800 years of silence, said organ expert Koos van de Linde, who participated in the restoration.

A team of researchers, guided by Catalunya, set out in 2019 to create a replica of the organ. However, they discovered that some of the original pipes still functioned as they did hundreds of years ago. Organ builder Winold van der Putten combined these original pipes with replicas created based on ancient organ-making techniques.

Alvaro Torrente, director of the Instituto Complutense De Ciencias Musicales in Madrid, likened the discovery to “finding a living dinosaur, something that we never imagined we could encounter, suddenly made real before our eyes and ears.”

Researchers hope to complete the organ restoration and create copies for churches worldwide, allowing its music to be accessible to all. “This is an amazing set of information that allows us to reconstruct the manufacturing process so that we can build pipes exactly as they were made,” added Catalunya.