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Christian Jerusalem Christian Jerusalem Religion, culture and spirituality The most important events in the New Testament occurred in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the place from which Jesus ascended to Heaven 40 days after his death and to return to the Day of Judgment. This is the place of resurrection and redemption, and also the place from which the creation of the world began according to Christian tradition. There are three designated holy areas in Jerusalem where the main sites are located. The most important area is within the Old City - Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Via Dolorosa. It was no accident that the Christian Quarter developed around it. Other areas are Mount Zion and Mount of Olives. In this document, we tried to distill the most prominent sites of Christian culture in the Old City of Jerusalem. In addition, we chose to mention two important sites, but located outside of Jerusalem: the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and Qasr al- Yahud, where Jesus was baptized and is located on the banks of the Jordan east of Jericho. It is highly recommended to use the hotel reception staff to register for organized tours operated by various companies in an attempt to be able to experience most of the sites in the most convenient way. 1. Christian Quarter The Christian Quarter is one of four quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City together with the Jewish, Muslim and Armenian Quarters. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the main attraction of the Christian Quarter; an opulent, historic site shared by several Christian denominations. Leading to the Holy Sepulchre is the Via Dolorosa, the route Christ took bearing his cross to his crucifixion. The Via Dolorosa starts in the Muslim Quarter and ends at the Holy Sepulchre which holds the last 5 Stations of the Cross. One of the most salient characteristics of the quarter is the red-tiled roofs extraordinary landscape of the Old City. 2. Church of the Holy Sepulchre This holy site is where Jesus was crucified at Golgotha (Calvary); died on the cross and was laid to rest in a burial cave. It is also where he was resurrected three days after his passing. In the 4th century Helena, mother of Christian Roman Emperor Constantine traveled to the Holy Land. She set about identifying religious sites and having churches erected to mark these sacred places. It is said that Helena rediscovered Jesus’ tomb and the “true cross.” The Church encompasses the last four (some say five) Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa. The structure of the church has changed and been extended over the years. In the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, there are several important things to see: Stone of the Unction (on this stone Jesus’ body was prepared for burial), Christ’s burial cave (Station 14 of the Via Dolorosa), the burial place of the First Man and tombs carved from the Second Temple period. The church also includes a large number of chapels and rooms held by various Christian communities. 3. The Garden Tomb An important (perhaps most important) site for Protestant Christianity in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected according to their faith - in contrast to the Catholic and Orthodox faiths who view the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as his burial place. Their doubts were in large part because the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was the site sanctioned by the Roman Catholic establishment. Major General Charles Gordon, a British officer and administrator, began searching for an alternative site. Gordon found a rocky escarpment near Damascus Gate. The fact that the escarpment resembled a skull suggested to Gordon that he had stumbled upon the true Golgotha, which may have been derived from the Hebrew and Aramaic for ‘skull.’ He also concluded that one of several tombs uncovered nearby in 1869 had to be the tomb of Jesus. John the Evangelist specifies that the tomb was located in a garden, and the site identified by Gordon contained an ancient cistern and a wine press; hence the name Garden Tomb (it’s also known as Gordon’s Calvary). Except great religious importance of the place, this is a lovely botanical garden where many trees that characterize the natural vegetation in Israel. 4. Via Dolorosa The Via Dolorosa is one of the most famous and sacred streets in the Christian world. It follows the path Jesus walked through the streets of Jerusalem, from the place of his trial to the place of his crucifixion. Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate to be judged and condemned near where the Old City’s Lion Gate stands today. After being judged Jesus carried the heavy cross through the crowded streets to where he would be crucified. It was a Roman custom to carry the cross from the place of trial to the place where the sentence was executed. The Sentenced was to pass through a central street, with his name and the details of the indictment listed on a label, in order to increase the suffering, the sense of shame and to "see and be feared." At The Via Dolorosa "14 stations", nine of them along the way and five in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Most of the stations are perpetuated by small churches and chapels, which symbolize various events that occurred to Jesus when he carried the cross. On Friday afternoons, a procession of Franciscan monks leaves the first station of the Via Dolorosa followed by many believers, all the way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 5. Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations In the Gospel of John we read of how Jesus came here to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples after the Last Supper. It was here that Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Romans. The Garden of Gethsemane is planted at the foot of the Mount of Olives facing the Kidron Valley and Jerusalem’s Old City walls. The name of the garden is Hebrew for “oil press” and the garden is planted with olive trees, some dating back hundreds of years. In the garden stands the Church of All Nations (The Basilica of the Agony). The church was designed by Antonio Berluzzi and built in 1924 with funds from Christian communities across the globe – hence the name. In the church you can see part of the Byzantine mosaic floor and the rock where Jesus prayed on that fateful night. Within the garden you can see the Grotto of Gethsemane (also called the Cave of the Olive Press) where Jesus and his disciples may have slept. Nearby is the Tomb of Mary where the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus is said to have been buried. 6. The Cenacle – Room Of The Last Supper Located on an upper floor of King David’s Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper, also called the Cenacle, is considered one of the holiest sites for Christianity in Jerusalem, since according to the tradition, it was the place where the last supper took place. The word “Cenacle” is derived from the Latin word for “dining room”, in memory of the festive Passover meal, which Jesus shared with his apostles on the eve of his death. According to the new testament, Jesus gave his students wine- a symbol of his blood, destined to be spilt, and distributed bread among them (probably a Matzo)- a symbol for his body, which would be sacrificed for the sake of his believers. According to the Christian tradition, significant events took place at this site: During the Pentecost holiday following the crucifixion, Jesus’ apostles gathered in this site along with his mother. The Holy Spirit entered them, and they started speaking different languages that were, until then, unknown to them. They then made use of these languages to travel abroad and spread Christianity among the nations. On the floor below us is the Tomb of King David. According to the New Testament, Jesus is considered to be a descendant of King David’s dynasty. Due to King David’s significance to Islam and Judaism, many disputes arose around the entire compound, and it switched hands throughout history. The Room of the Last Supper is also notable for stunning view of the Dormition Abbey, Old City Walls and Mount of Olives from the roof outside. The site is open to visitors of all religions. 7. The Dormition Abbey The monastic church- “the Dormition” is one of the most prominent churches in Jerusalem due to its size, beauty and location that overlooks the old city. The church stands out due to its round shape, unlike most of Jerusalem’s churches that are rectangular. The central building is round, as well as the wings and towers surrounding it. Also the cone-shaped dome has a form that is distinct from the other churches of Jerusalem. The church was established where, according to tradition, Miriam, mother of Jesus, fell to her death- sleep. The church’s name derives from this event- “The Dormition”, meaning “coma”. The prayer hall in the church is built in a rounded shape, with mosaics in its walls depicting events from the life of the saints. The copper rooster at the top of the church bell tower is a reminder of the cock crowing mentioned in the New Testament. It is recommended that you visit also the underground hall- the Crypt, with Maria’s statue at the center, depicting her in her last sleep. According to the Christian tradition, Maria did not die as a common person. She fell asleep forever and ascended to the skies, where she rules the universe alongside her son Jesus.
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