The Basilica of Saint Stephen is an impressive Catholic (Dominican) church, located next door to the Protestant Garden Tomb. In the 5th century a great Byzantine church existed in this place, flanked by a large monastery. Saint Stephen's relics were brought here, according to tradition. It is said that in the 6th century "the venerable house of the protomartyr Stephen" was the meeting place for 10,000 monks gathered to defend their doctrine.
The basilica was destryed by the Persians in 614 AD, restored by the Crusaders (1099 AD) and destroyed again in 1187 by the Crusaders themselves, to prevent the basilica from falling into the hands of Saladin's Muslim army.

The École Biblique, or: "École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem", is a French Catholic academic insitute, founded in 1890 by Dominicans, specialising in archaeology and Bible research. Its scholars, among other activities, were involved in the research of the famous, invaluable Dead Sea scrolls.