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After lunch we again boarded our bus and went towards the LION'S GATE. On the way there we passed lines of people marching around Jerusalem, celebrating Independence Day. We also passed several Gates including DAMASCUS GATE which looked like a very busy market place and we would have loved to browse through (well maybe just some of us, oh, well… I would…), but we passed it, as we passed HEROD'S GATE and ended up where we had planned: in front of the Lion's Gate which is the closest to VIA DELOROSA. |
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY |
CHURCH OF ST. ANNA |
Bible says: "Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades... (JOHN 5:2) |
Right next to the church are the ruins of BETHESDA POOL, believed to be the site where Jesus healed a paralytic. There are also the ruins of a Roman temple to the god of medicine and the remains of a Byzantine church built over the temple. |
First we visited the CHURCH OF ST. ANNA which was one of my favorite churches in Jerusalem. It is one of the few Crusader churches that was not destroyed by Mamelukes who captured the Holy Land in the twelfth century. |
The Church is surrounded by a beautiful garden that you cross walking toward the entrance. I loved the arches, the color of natural stone, no over the top decorations, and wonderful acoustics. |
BETHESDA POOL |
LION'S GATE |
Bible says: "And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band." (Mark 15: 16) |
Close by is the location of the ANTONIA FORTRESS. We climbed underground where we checked out several historical excavations and a huge water cistern. We gathered by what remains of the floor, where Jesus would have most likely walked and perhaps was mocked and scourged, and listened to the description of the events. |
Via Delorosa ("Way of the Cross") - the route that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his crucifixion and burial - is one of the most important places to visit for a Christian visiting Jerusalem. The route changed several times during history which is of little importance since its meaning is in the reflections on the event itself. We started the route at the CONDEMNATION CHAPEL and followed the stations along Via Delorosa, through the Muslim quarter. |
Floor, where Jesus would have most likely walked |
VIA DELOROSA |
It is noisy and crowded just like in Jesus' times would have been. The stations are numbered but it is hard to see them and some go off the route. At one of them we walked into a court yard and almost climbed on a roof to find it. Since you are walking through the bazaar, where so many things are constantly happening, you have a hard time concentrating (those who like shopping have an especially difficult time - sort of a penance I guess - did mine for three years back and three years ahead,… and yes, it was that hard!). |
It is not a quiet place of meditation but yet there are group after group taking this way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. |
When we arrived there we said the last five stations and had an hour or two off. Just standing outside of this church gives you never ending "entertainment". There are so many different types of people in the most interesting garments. We took numerous photos of the KNIGHTS AND DAMES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER from England, that were getting ready to enter the church, there were various kinds of priests and pilgrims - never ending opportunity for staring and taking photos. After a while though we could not resist the inviting sounds of merchants and shoppers, coming from all directions, and soon you would find our faithful pilgrims, in various places of the market, turned into "hard core" hagglers. |