Custom Search
Custom Search
The Bible says: "On the
morrow a great multitude
that had come to the feast,
when they heard that Jesus
was coming to Jerusalem,
took the branches of the
palm trees, and went forth
to meet him, and cried
out, Hosanna: Blessed is
he that cometh in the
name of the Lord, even the
King of Israel. And Jesus,
having found a young ass,
sat thereon; as it is
written…"
(John 14: 12-14)
(John 14: 12-14)
We woke up early like always but very excited that
morning because this was the day when would visit
JERUSALEM.
After breakfast we headed towards the MOUNT OF
OLIVES and visited a small church behind a huge
wall that commemorates the place where the
disciples brought the donkey on which Jesus rode
triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Since
Mount of Olives is completely walkable we walked
from one famous site to another.
The Bible says: "One day
Jesus was praying in a
certain place. When he
finished, one of his disciples
said to him, "Lord, teach us
to pray, just as John taught
his disciples." He said to
them, "When you pray, say:
"Our Father, hallowed be
your name, your kingdom
come. Give us each day our
daily bread. Forgive us our
sins, for we also forgive
everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into
temptation."
(Luke 11:1-4)
(Luke 11:1-4)
Our second stop was PATERNOSTER CHURCH, a place where
Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer. The present day
church was built in the 19th century on the remains of a 14th
century Crusader's church which was built on the remains of an
early 4th century church that was constructed by St. Helen, the
mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
Its focal point is the cloister,
decorated with tiled panels
of the Lord's Prayer
in 62 languages where we
looked and found ours.
I have to mention the
beautiful courtyard that
is surrounded by pillars
and arches in the
neo-gothic style and is
full of gorgeous roses.
Its focal point is the cloister,
decorated with tiled panels
of the Lord's Prayer
in 62 languages where we
looked and found ours.
I have to mention the
beautiful courtyard that
is surrounded by pillars
and arches in the
neo-gothic style and is
full of gorgeous roses.
PATERNOSTER CHURCH
The Bible says: "When he
had led them out to the
vicinity of Bethany, he lifted
up his hands and blessed
them. While he was blessing
them, he left them and was
taken up into heaven. Then
they worshiped him and
returned to Jerusalem with
great joy."
(Luke 24:50-51)
(Luke 24:50-51)
Our next stop was a Mosque or DOME OF
THE ASCENSION which is sacred to
Christians and Muslims as a site of Jesus'
ascension into heaven. It contains what is
traditionally believed to be the last footprint
of Jesus on earth. We actually did not go
inside because of the long line but enjoyed
the small chapel that was taken over, after
the fall of the Crusader kingdom, by Salah
al-Din (also known as Saladin) in the 12th
century and transformed from a Christian
church into a mosque.
The Bible says: "And when
he drew nigh, he saw the city
and wept over it, saying, If
thou hadst known in this
day, even thou, the things
which belong unto peace!
but now they are hid from
thine eyes."
(Luke 19: 41-42)
(Luke 19: 41-42)
From the Dome of the Ascension we walked
downhill towards the DOMINUS FLEVIT CHAPEL
which must be one of the most interesting walks in
Israel. First you walk by row after row of graves that
are a part of Jewish cemeteries and closely
guarded by the Israeli military. There are also
Muslim and Christian cemeteries close by because
KIDRON VALLEY is believed to be the ancient
VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, where, according to
the Bible, mankind will be resurrected on Judgment
day - so it is very popular to be buried there and a
burial plot could cost you $50,000 or more.
From there we went downhill, passing more graves and
thick walls, while watching Jerusalem right in front of us.
They told us the legend about the GOLDEN GATE (the wall
that surrounds Jerusalem has 11 gates - seven are open at
this time) which is facing the Mount of Olives. The Jewish
tradition says that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem
through this door, so the Muslims sealed it, at the
beginning of the 17th century, to keep him out. Then they
built the cemetery in front of it in order to keep his
predecessor Elijah out too. Elijah as a Kohen (direct male
descendant of the Biblical Aron - Jewish priest), they
believed, was not suppose to cross the cemetery according
to the Jewish law. It turns out, they overlooked, that
Kohens really cannot cross the Jewish cemetery but have
absolutely no problem crossing the cemeteries where
non-Jews are buried.
DOMINUS FLEVIT CHAPEL
As you continue waking you are soon rewarded with the best views of the old part of Jerusalem. A little further down the road
you are going to find the Dominus Flevit Chapel where Jesus sat when he wept over the fate of Jerusalem.
DOME OF THE ASCENSION
GOLDEN GATE
Soon we found ourselves in the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE which is right next to
the BASILICA OF AGONY. Old olive trees have roots that are believed to be two
thousand years old and therefore the witness to Jesus' emotional suffering and
betrayal.
The Basilica of Agony is beautiful but very dark and was designed by Antonio Berluzzi in 1924 to remind us of the night when Christ was put into the hands of his executors. 12 nations helped to build it so it is also called the Church of the Nations. And this is where we had our daily mass.
We visited the TOMB OF THE VIRGIN MARY, which is close by, afterwards. It is a sacred place for Christians and Muslims alike. Than it was time for lunch.
The Basilica of Agony is beautiful but very dark and was designed by Antonio Berluzzi in 1924 to remind us of the night when Christ was put into the hands of his executors. 12 nations helped to build it so it is also called the Church of the Nations. And this is where we had our daily mass.
We visited the TOMB OF THE VIRGIN MARY, which is close by, afterwards. It is a sacred place for Christians and Muslims alike. Than it was time for lunch.
TOMB OF THE VIRGIN MARY
GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
BASILICA OF AGONY
BASILICA OF AGONY