Holy Land, Israel - Jerusalem and Bethlehem - April 11
We took an "Overnight in Jerusalem and Holy Land" tour to include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Gallilee, the Jordan River and a float in the Dead Sea.
To walk in the footsteps of Jesus--to walk the stations of the cross where Jesus walked on the Via Doloroso, to touch the stone he prayed on in Gethsamane the night before he died (Church of the Agony or All Nations), to touch the areas where he was born (Star of Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity), crucified, anointed and buried (Church of the Holy Sepulchre) was quite overwhelming and very spiritual.
My Mom would be so happy to hear of our experiences here.
Mount of Olives ---
The Mount of Olives or Mount Olivet is a mountain ridge east of and adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City. It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes and is attributed to the ancient Judean kingdom.
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Garden of Gethsemane --
Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane is the site where Jesus prayed and his disciples slept, according to Christian tradition, and became an important pilgrimage site. In addition to its religious significance, a study has shown that the olive trees in the garden are some of the oldest in the world, at approximately 2,000 years old.
The Church of the Agony and Garden of Gethsemane was our first stop. It was very emotional to touch the stone where Jesus prayed.
The Old Walled City of Jerusalem ----
Surrounded by ancient walls, the Old City is home to holy sites such as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, where prayers are inserted into the mortar area (Jewish), Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine and Al-aksa Mosque (Muslim), and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian), which dates to the 4th century.
Shops and markets selling prayer shawls, rosaries, and ceramics fill busy alleys, while food stalls serve falafel, pita, and fresh-squeezed juice, and bar mitzvahs are celebrated all inside the walled city of Jerusalem. At night, the wall is lit up and it's a vibrant area.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre ----- A church in the Christian Quarter of the Old Walled City of Jerusalem. It contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified, at a place known as Calvary or Golgotha, and Jesus's empty tomb, where he is believed by Christians to have been buried and resurrected.
To walk in the footsteps of Jesus--to walk the stations of the cross where Jesus walked on the Via Doloroso, to touch the stone he prayed on in Gethsamane the night before he died (Church of the Agony or All Nations), to touch the areas where he was born (Star of Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity), crucified, anointed and buried (Church of the Holy Sepulchre) was quite overwhelming and very spiritual.
My Mom would be so happy to hear of our experiences here.
Mount of Olives ---
The Mount of Olives or Mount Olivet is a mountain ridge east of and adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City. It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes and is attributed to the ancient Judean kingdom.
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Garden of Gethsemane --
Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane is the site where Jesus prayed and his disciples slept, according to Christian tradition, and became an important pilgrimage site. In addition to its religious significance, a study has shown that the olive trees in the garden are some of the oldest in the world, at approximately 2,000 years old.
The Church of the Agony and Garden of Gethsemane was our first stop. It was very emotional to touch the stone where Jesus prayed.
The Old Walled City of Jerusalem ----
Surrounded by ancient walls, the Old City is home to holy sites such as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, where prayers are inserted into the mortar area (Jewish), Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine and Al-aksa Mosque (Muslim), and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian), which dates to the 4th century.
Shops and markets selling prayer shawls, rosaries, and ceramics fill busy alleys, while food stalls serve falafel, pita, and fresh-squeezed juice, and bar mitzvahs are celebrated all inside the walled city of Jerusalem. At night, the wall is lit up and it's a vibrant area.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre ----- A church in the Christian Quarter of the Old Walled City of Jerusalem. It contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified, at a place known as Calvary or Golgotha, and Jesus's empty tomb, where he is believed by Christians to have been buried and resurrected.
The tomb, which was actually a cave, is enclosed by a 19th-century shrine called the Aedicula. Constantine's mother, Helena, built the Christian church here, along with many other Christian churches and St. Catherine's monastery in Jordan.
Bethlehem -----
The Church of the Nativity is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the West Bank, Palestine. The grotto it contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus.
The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land.
Bethlehem -----
The Church of the Nativity is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the West Bank, Palestine. The grotto it contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus.
The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land.
After checking in our hotel
not far from the walled city of Jerusalem, we went out for dinner and took a bus ride around the area to see the lights of the city at night.
One of worlds oldest olive trees in Gethsemane
Me touching Wailing Wall
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