Jerusalem – The centerpiece of history – Jerusalem is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity. At the Temple, Jesus taught his disciples and the crowd that gathered around him. He confronted the Pharisees and other teachers of the law on their man-made rules and restrictions on the people. From the Temple he drove the money changers, calling on the people to keep it a house of prayer. During the final week of his earthly life, Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Temple -- a prophecy that was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Golden Gate at Jerusalem is where the Messiah will enter Jerusalem when He returns in glory.
Sites of Interest in Jerusalem:
- Temple Mount -- The place where King Solomon built the first temple and later, King Herod would build his grand temple. This is the site of the Jewish holy site at the Western Wall and the Muslim Dome of the Rock.
- The Pools of Bethesda (The Church of St. Anne) -- Located near 'The Sheep Gate', this are was where the blind, the lame, and the crippled would seek healing when the angel of God stirred the water (John 5). Nearby is the Church of St. Anne from the Crusader period, the traditional site of the mother of Mary.
- The Mount of Olives -- This is the site of Jesus resurrection into heaven and the place where He will return in glory. It is the location where Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by your name." (Matthew 6).
This is also the site of the Church of the Ascension, including the Chapel from the time of the Crusaders. Also located on the Mount of Olives are the Russian Church, the Lutheran Augusta Victoria Church, the Greek Orthodox Church of Viri Galilea, and the Eleone Church, one of the three main churches built by Constantine, operated by the Carmelite Sisters.
- The Upper Room -- Tradition says that this is the room where Jesus had his last supper with his disciples before going to the cross. It is the same room where the Apostles gathered to pray after the resurrection. In this room, the disciples where together and in one accord when the promised Holy Spirit descended upon them and was seen as tongues of fire resting upon them (Acts 2). From this place the disciples went out into the streets of Jerusalem to declare the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost and three thousand people were baptized, becoming followers of Jesus Christ.
- Gethsemane – This garden with an Olive grove and oil press was a place Jesus visited often to pray. It was here that Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper, agonizing as death on the cross approached. In this garden, Judas, one of the twelve closest disciples of Jesus, betrayed Jesus, to those who wanted to kill him.
On the grounds of the Gethsemane Church are gardens with olive trees that are thousands of years old. Traditionally known as the Grotto of Betrayal, this is the site of Jesus’ arrest and the beginning of His passion.
- The House of Caiaphas -- \The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is located on the site that is believed to be the location of the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest. The word “Gallicantu” is Latin, meaning “the rooster’s crow.” This is the site where Jesus was brought after he was betrayed and arrested. From here, Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate to be tried.
The courtyard of the church includes the remains of cellars and rooms used to store the taxes and donations brought to the Temple.
- The Via Dolorosa (The Way of Sorrow) – Along this narrow road, Jesus struggled to carry the heavy, wooden cross from the Praetorium, or Court of Law, to Golgotha, the place of execution. Along the Via Dolorosa, the stations of the cross are marked:
- The place of condemnation in the Praetorium;
- The place of scourging; also the place where Jesus received his cross;
- The location where Jesus fell for the first time;
- The site where Jesus meets his anguished mother;
- The place where Simon of Cyrene assisted Jesus in carrying the cross;
- The traditional site where the woman wiped Jesus face;
- The place where Jesus collapsed for the second time;
- The site where Jesus addressed the women of Jerusalem;
- The location where Jesus fell for the third time;
- The place where Jesus’ clothes were removed;
- Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified.
- Church of the Holy Sepulcher – It was here at Golgotha, tradition tells us, that Jesus was nailed to the cross, suffered, bled, and died. The primary structure of the church w as built by the Crusaders. Within the church are several sites considered holy by Christians, including the traditional tomb of Jesus. The areas of the church are divided between the Greek Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, and the Armenian churches.
- Mount Zion – The place where Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived among the disciples after Jesus’ death and resurrection. According to some religious traditions, it is also the site of her death. It is the location of the Basilica of the Dormision.
- The Kidron Valley – A deep gulf, dividing the Old City of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. In this valley, thousands of graves and tombs from ancient and modern times are located. Jesus crossed this valley from Jerusalem on his way to the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper. It is believed by several religious traditions that this is “the Valley of Jehoshaphat” where the Final Judgment will take place.
This is also the traditional site of the stoning place of St. Stephen (Acts 6 & 7). Many believe the stoning took place to the north of Nablus gate – known also as “Stephen’s Gate”. A church was built here under the oversight of Empress Evdokia that was later destroyed in the Persian invasion. Today, a Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the martyrdom of Stephen.
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