The Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 638 was not aware of the elaborate hierarchy of churches and monasteries in the city, which had been established in the three preceding centuries. Since only minor destruction affected the city following the Muslim conquest, the churches remained intact and were not transformed into Mosques, as was the case in Damascus. A legend rendered by Eutychius describes the surrender of the city to 'Umar:

When the hour of his prayer arrived, he said to the Patriarch Sophronios: �I want to pray now.� Sophronios answered: �Amir of the Faithful, you can pray where your are [now].� �I shall not pray here" was the reply. Then the Patriarch led 'Umar to the Church of St. Constantine and spread out a mat in the middle of the basilica. But, answering, �I shall not pray here either.� 'Umar went out to the steps in front of the gates of the church of St. Constantine on the east side and prayed there by himself. Later, when he returned from his prayer and sat down, he asked the Patriarch Sophronios, �Do you know why I did not pray In the church?� �0, Amir of the Faithful,� replied the Patriarch, �I do not know.� �Had I prayed in your church.� 'Urnar told him, �the church would have been lost to you forever, for after my death the Muslims would have taken possession of it arguing that 'Umar had prayed there.� (Eutichius, Gli Annali [B. Pirone trans.]. Cairo 1887.)

From the eighth century onward the Muslims began to attack churches and monasteries, inflicting serious damage to both; priests and monks who lived there were harassed as well. The Muslim attacks, initiated by the authorities, included high taxation, which led to the abandonment of some of the churches and monasteries. The earthquakes that occurred in Jerusalem between the seventh and eleventh centuries added to the havoc of man. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was severely damaged in the earthquake of 1016 together with the Dome of the Rock and then again in the earthquake of 1033. Muslim law, which forbade the building of new churches or monasteries, was further extended to restrict repairs and renovations of the edifices that had fallen to ruins in the earthquakes. This extension of the law resulted in the gradual elimination of churches and monasteries.