Holy places in israel. Holy places of Israel: overview-journey

On the territory of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher there are sixteen places of worship and chapels, most of them associated with the Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection, and with other shrines:

1. Stone of Anointing - the place where Joseph prepared the body of Christ for burial.

2. Place of women, from which the holy women and John watched the Crucifixion.

3. Calvary - the place of the Crucifixion and the location of the Cross

4. Tomb of jesus in the center of the rotunda. Jesus' tomb includes two separate rooms: vestibule and burial chamber. The modern Canopy allows you to keep this plan. The tomb, originally carved into the rock, was then faced with marble by the architect Komninos.

5. Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea , carved into the rock, is located at the back of the Canopy.

6. Place "Don't Touch Me" - the place of Christ's appearance after His Resurrection and appearance before Mary Magdalene, where He said to her: "Do not touch Me" (John 20:17).

7. The Flagellation Pillar, A Catholic chapel, in the center of which a large part of the column has survived, to which it is believed that Christ was tied and suffered torment.

Joint liturgy of Orthodox bishops in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during the Orthodox Congress held in Jerusalem in June 2000

8. Jesus Prison and Wailing Chapel is located in the depths of the arcade of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where it is believed that Christ was temporarily detained and His tormentors squeezed His legs with a board with two holes.

9. Chapel of the Centurion (centurion) of Longinos, located on the left side of the corridor surrounding the Catholic part of the temple. According to tradition, the centurion Longinos, a Roman officer who saw the Crucifixion, believed in Christ and died as a martyr.

10. Chapel of the Lot. Here, according to tradition, the soldiers after the Crucifixion "... cast lots for My clothes" (John 19:24).

11. Chapel of St. Helena and the grotto of the find of the Life-giving Cross are located in a natural rock - crypt, into which 42 carved steps lead, where St. Helena discovered the Cross of Christ, nails and crosses of two robbers.

12. Chapel of the Scourge and the Crown of Thorns. A part of the column was preserved under the holy table of the chapel, on which, according to tradition, they put a purple robe on Christ and placed a crown of thorns on His head (Matt. 27: 27-29).

13. Chapel of Adam. Located under the elevation of Calvary. By the oldest tradition, Christ was baptized over the grave of the skull of the first man Adam and thereby washed away the original sin. The place where Christ was baptized was called the Skull Place, or Golgotha ​​in Hebrew.

14.-16. Chapel of 40 Martyrs and Brother of God Jacob , although not associated with the Passion of Jesus, refers architecturally to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It is located in the west of the Holy Court and was added to the places of worship during the reign of Emperor Constantine Monomakh (11th century).

The funeral ceremony in the prayer hall of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Greek minister of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher with the key to the Temple

In addition to the sixteen chapels described above, there are many others in the Temple belonging to various Christian communities, such as the Coptic, Syrian and Armenian chapels dedicated to the history of the Passion of Christ and other saints. In general, the Temple and the places of pilgrimage located in it belong to the various Christian communities and patriarchies of Jerusalem. The years of struggle for ownership of the Temple and its places of pilgrimage, which began after the departure of the Crusaders in 1187, are a dark and difficult chapter in the Christian history of the Holy Places of Palestine. Hatred, rivalry, bigotry and frequent bloody clashes between Christian communities were used by the Mamelukes and later the Ottomans, turning the holy places of pilgrimage into a profitable bargain, selling them to the one who gave the greater ransom. This situation continued until until the middle of the nineteenth century, and only after intervention of the Community of European States in 1857, rival Christian communities came to an agreement by signing the famous Pilgrimage Sites Regime Treaty, also known as "status quo".

Jewish tombs carved into the rock behind the sacred canopy

Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Holy Courtyard in front of it

According to the old Christian tradition, the first martyr Stephen was stoned outside the eastern wall of Jerusalem, near the town of Gethsemane in the Kidron Valley.

The modern monastery of St. Stephen was built by the Cypriot monk of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Archbishop Arkadiy.

Place of pilgrimage to the monastery of the First Martyr Stephen in the Kidron Valley

Gethsemane

Gethsemane is located in the east of Jerusalem, in the bed of the Kidron stream, also known by the biblical name valley of Jehoshaphat ... Starting in Jerusalem, it flows through the Judean Desert, bends around the Lavra of St. Sava and flows into the Dead Sea. According to Christian tradition, the Last Judgment will take place in the Kidron stream, in the Gethsemane region. This tradition has to do with the name Jehoshaphat, derived from the Hebrew Yahweh-Shafot, meaning God judges (Joel 3, 2).

Gethsemane, according to the creators of the Gospel (Matt. 26, 36. Mark. 14:32. Luke 22, 39. John 18) is associated with the prayer of Christ before the cross, the betrayal of Judas and the arrest of Jesus. In other words, the Passion and the Way of the Cross of the God-Man began from here.

In the fourth century, the events of the Passion and the Death Prayer of Jesus were recorded topographically and recognized as places of pilgrimage and cult centers.

The place of Gethsemane and its places of pilgrimage

On the site of Jesus' dying prayer during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Great (378-395), a Christian basilica was erected, the ruins of which can be seen today inside the modern Catholic Church of All Nations (or the Church of the Passion of Jesus).

The olive trees that surround the area today also existed in antiquity, hence the name Gethsemane, which means grinding olives in Hebrew.

There is a belief that many of today's olive trees are the same age as the times of Christ.

Tomb of the virgin

Gethsemane is associated not only with the dying prayer and the Passion of Christ, but also with the grave of His Mother theotokos.

Interior of the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin in Gethsemane

After the Fifth Ecumenical Synod recognized and legalized the dogma of the divinity of the Mother of God, from the middle of the 5th century her grave became a place of pilgrimage.

Facade of the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin in Gethsemane

The modern huge crypt that covers the tomb is only the remains of a two-story church built by Emperor Marcian (450-457) and the first patriarch of Jerusalem, Juvenal.

Tomb of the Virgin in Gethsemane

Pools of Siloam (Shiloah)

The basins of Siloam, located on the western side of the Kidron stream, on the territory of the modern Arab village of the same name, since the biblical era, have been for the inhabitants of Jerusalem one of the most important reservoirs of drinking water.

The water from the Gihon spring was fed into the reservoirs through an underground water supply system that was hewn out during the reign of King Khizkiyahu (Hezekiah). (2 Chronicles, 32: 2-4).

King Herod (37-4 BC) transformed the basin area by adding public buildings and marble colonnades. The waters of the pools of Siloam are considered healing, and Christ sent a blind man to them to wash and heal (John 9).

In 450, Empress Eudokia built a three-aisled Christian basilica here, the ruins of which have survived to this day. Although the basilica was destroyed by the Persians in 614, the pools continued to be considered a place of pilgrimage throughout the centuries that followed.

Sheep source

The Sheep Spring is located in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, near Lion's gate and the northern wing of the ruined Jewish Temple. It was built during the Maccabean period (2nd century BC) in the form of a five-chamber reservoir, the waters of which were used for the needs of the Temple. It was believed that the waters of the spring are healing, due to which a large number of sick people visited it in the hope of a cure (John 5.13).

Sheep Well of Bethesda

Sheep spring with St. Anne's crusader church.

After the founding of Elia Capitolina by Hadrian in 136, the site of the reservoir turned into an idolatrous cult center dedicated to the gods Serapius and Asclepius. The temples built in honor of these gods were interconnected by hundreds of medicinal baths.

In the Byzantine era, in the middle of the fifth century, the reservoir was recognized as a place of pilgrimage, and a three-nave basilica was built over it, dedicated to the Mother of God, since according to tradition, the house of Her parents, Joachim and Anna, was located here.

In the eleventh century, the Crusaders built a new church above the Byzantine basilica and dedicated it to St. Anne. This church has survived to this day.

Bethesda with the Church of St. Anne from the Crusader era

Pretoria

Pretoria, the official residence of the Roman procurator in Jerusalem of the Christ era, was the Anthony fortress, located in the northwestern corner of the courtyard belonging to the architectural complex of the Judean Temple. Here Pilate decided to execute Christ through crucifixion. In the same courtyard, Roman soldiers mocked Him, put a crown of thorns on Him and gave Him a cross - this is how the Way of the Cross of the Lord's Passion began.

Prison cells of the Roman Pretorium

Graphic restoration of Christ era Pretoria

The ruins of Roman Pretoria are scattered across three different Christian monasteries in today's Jerusalem.

Part of the tiled floor of the praetorian courtyard known as Lisostrotus (pavement) (John 19:13), kept in a Franciscan monastery Esse Homo. Another part of the lithostratus, underground cisterns built for the needs of the Jewish Temple and a three-door apse, known as "Behold the Man" ( Ekke Homo), are in the convent of the Sisters of Zion. According to tradition, from here Pilate introduced Christ to the Pharisees, who demanded His condemnation. In the third monastery - Greek Pretoria - various grottoes carved into the rock have been preserved. It is believed that one of them was used for the temporary detention of Christ in Pretoria, and the other, lower one, served as a prison for the robber Varrava.

Catholic Church of Pretoria with the apse of Se Man.

Way of the cross

In addition to the theological significance of the Passion and the dying prayer of Christ during the Crucifixion, the Way of the Cross has a chronological and topographic significance. It includes all of Jesus' Passion in Jerusalem, from His arrest to His burial. In other words, the Way of the Cross was to begin with the Garden of Gethsemane and end with Golgotha ​​and the Tomb.

Way of the Cross on Good Friday

However, beginning in the eleventh century, Jerusalem Christians defined this path as beginning with His condemnation in Pretoria and ending with the Holy Tomb in the Temple of the Holy Sepulcher. In modern Jerusalem, the route and duration of the Path, which does not exceed a kilometer, does not have to coincide with the one that Christ traveled two thousand years ago, since the city's layout underwent radical changes in the second and fifth centuries. But, general direction The path remained almost unchanged. The Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) along its length includes 14 stops, which are associated with the events of the Torments and Passion of the Lord. The first two of them are located on the territory of Pretoria, the next seven - in the city, and the rest - on the territory of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The 14 stops include:

1. Lisostrotos and Pilate's condemnation of Jesus

2. Receiving the Cross

3. The first fall of Jesus (according to tradition)

4. Jesus meeting his Mother (according to tradition)

5. Cross given to Simon of Kirinayki (according to the Gospel testimonies: Matt. 27:32, Mark. 15:21, Luke 23: 26)

6. Veronica wiping Jesus' sweaty face (ancient Christian tradition)

7. The second fall of Jesus (medieval tradition)

8. Jesus comforting the Jerusalem virgins (Luke 23: 18-27)

9. The third fall of Jesus (medieval tradition)

10. Jesus Stripped for Crucifixion (John 19:30)

11. Nailing Jesus to the Cross

12. Jesus giving His Soul (John 19:40)

13. Descent from the Cross and preparation for burial (John 19:40)

14. Burial of Jesus (John 19: 41-42).

Orthodox ceremony with the participation of bishops from all over the world

Zion

The word Zion (Zion in Hebrew) is used by the Old Testament to name various areas of the Holy Land, such as: the mountains of Judah (Psalm 132.3), Mount Hermon (Deut 4:49), Jerusalem (Psalm 76.2), etc. ...

In the later Jewish tradition, the same name means the Kingdom of Judah, the entire land of Israel, the people of Israel and, most importantly, Jerusalem and the spiritual connection with the Jewish people, where, as the prophet Micah says, "... He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths,... "(Micah 4, 2). At the same time, there was an ancient Jewish tradition, identifying the name Zion with the western hill of Jerusalem. The Church Fathers from the first Christian years recognized this tradition and associated it with many religious figures and events. Christian tradition, the following events took place on the hill of Zion:

The last supper and the sacrament of the Holy Communion, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the creation of the first christian church (Acts 2.). In other words, the Church Fathers saw how the words of the prophet Micah about the Teachings of the Lord come true on Mount Zion.

Later, in the 5th and 6th centuries, Zion was associated with other events, such as: Denial of Peter, Dormition of the Theotokos, Burial of Jacob, the brother of God, Burial of the biblical king David etc.

Mount Zion with Christian pilgrimage sites

Patriarchal School of Zion

Chapel of the Last Supper and the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

The most important and oldest (2nd century AD) Christian place of worship in the Holy Land is the chamber of the Last Supper, a two-story building in which The Last Supper and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

In the fourth century at the summit of Zion, in place the chamber of the Secret evenings, a large basilica was built, called the Church of St. Zion. The Zion Basilica was destroyed by the Persians in 614, rebuilt by Patriarch Modestus and again destroyed by the Muslims in 966. After the crusaders left, the chamber of the Last Supper was turned into a mosque by the Mamelukes and was used for a long time as a Muslim temple.

Although today the upper room of the Last Supper belongs to Muslims, it is available to all Christians as a place of pilgrimage and prayer.

Panorama of Zion Hill and its Christian pilgrimage sites

Mount of olives

The Mount of Olives (Har-ha-Zeitim in Hebrew or Tjabal-e-Tur in Arabic) is a mountain range 730 meters high above the Mediterranean Sea level, located in the east of Jerusalem. It is mentioned both in the Old (Zech. 14.4) and in the New (Matt. 24. Mark. 13. Luke. 26. Acts. 1, 4-12) Testaments. Its three peaks: northern - mountain Scopus (Har-Hatzofim in Hebrew) with the Jewish University built on it, the middle one, on which the hospital is located Augusta Victoria and southern e-Tour or the peak of the Ascension, where all Christian places of pilgrimage, churches and monasteries are concentrated, are associated for Christians with two important events in the life of Christ: Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 24, Luke 21) and Ascension. In the fourth century, on the site of the Sermon on the Mount, St. Helena built a large basilica, which was named Eleonian Church. The ruins of this basilica are today inside the Catholic Church of Our Father. (Pater Noster).

In 387, a large octagonal church was built on the site of the Ascension - Chapel of the Ascension, as the Byzantines called it, the luminous cross of which was visible throughout Jerusalem. The Church of the Ascension was destroyed by the Persians and rebuilt by the Crusaders in almost the same way.

In 1187 it was converted into a mosque by Saladdin, and the places of pilgrimage around it were distributed to Muslim families in Jerusalem. In addition to these two most important pilgrimage sites, 24 other Christian institutions were built on the Mount of Olives in the 5-6 centuries, including churches, monasteries and hotels for pilgrims. Some of the most important pilgrimage sites located today on the northern summit of the Mount of Olives are Greek Church of Galilee Pilgrims (Viri Galilei, the meeting place of Christ with the Apostles after the resurrection (Matt. 28.10)), a Russian monastery with a church St. John Baptist, newly built greek Church of the Ascension, a pilgrimage site of the Ascension, which is still in the possession of Muslims, Catholic churches Our Father (Pater Noster) and The lament of the Lord(Dominus Flevit) as well Russian monastery of Penitent Magdalene, located in the west of the summit.

The majestic Orthodox church in Little Galilee on the Mount of Olives

Bethagia

The place of pilgrimage Bethagia is mentioned in Evagelia as the starting point of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Matt. 21.12. Mark. 11.12) and is located in the eastern part of the Mount of Olives. From the 2nd century BC NS. and during the Roman and Byzantine eras, there was a small village in this place, the inhabitants of which were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding.

The place of Bethagia and its places of pilgrimage

Since the 4th century it has been consecrated as a Christian pilgrimage site. The first church was built during the era of the Crusaders. The modern Greek Church of Bethagia was recently built by Archbishop Gregory of Tiberias.

Place of pilgrimage Bethagia and the church built by Archbishop Gregory of Tiberias.

Place of pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Stoned First Martyr Stephen

St. Stephen, deacon of the first Christian community in Jerusalem, was the first Christian to be punished with stoning for his faith in Christ and Christianity (Acts 7). For this reason, he was canonized by the church and named the First Martyr. The place of his stoning and his suffering (Beit Haskela in Hebrew) was, according to Jewish tradition, in the northern part of Jerusalem, outside the city walls, near the rock of the prophet Jeremiah. The body of the stoned saint was buried by Christians, according to tradition, in his hometown Gamla. At the beginning of the fifth century, when the tomb of the first martyr was discovered, his remains were reburied on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. A couple of years later, Bishop Juvenaly, the future patriarch of Jerusalem, transferred the bones of the saint to the Garden of Gethsemane and buried them in a church built in his honor. In 460, the empress Eudokia, the wife of Theodore II, built a large Basilica on the traditional stone-stoning site, the Martyrium, in which the remains of the saint were reburied for the third time. The Dominican Fathers, who discovered the ruins of this basilica, built a new basilica on them in 1881, located a few meters north of the Damascus Gate. Orthodox place pilgrimage to the First Martyr Stephen in Gethsemane - this is the place where the church was built by Archbishop Juvenal, where the remains of the Saint were buried a second time.

Ancient Christian Basilica of St. Stephen in Jerusalem (5th century)

Places of pilgrimage: Basilica dedicated to the visit of Elizabeth by the Virgin Mary; Church of St. John the Baptist

These two places of pilgrimage belong Catholic Church and are located in the western part of Jerusalem in the small village of Ein-Karem (Grape Spring). This hill, located today within the city, in the era of Christ was called the mountainous country (Luke 1:39). In the fifth century, over these two pilgrimage sites, the Jerusalem Patriarchate built two magnificent three-aisled basilicas with colored mosaic floors, one dedicated to John the Baptist, and the other to the visit of Elizabeth by the Virgin Mary. Later, new Catholic churches were built on the ruins of these two basilicas.

In Ein Karem there are also the Russian Orthodox Monastery of St. John the Baptist and a Greek church dedicated to the same

Monastery of Simeon the Righteous (Katamon)

The monastery of Simeon the Righteous is located on a hill called Katamon (or Katamon) (name derived from the Greek kata monas (aside), since this hill was far from the city center). Medieval Christian tradition defines finding grave of Simeon the Righteous on the Katamon hill. His grave, carved into the rock and located in the building of the monastery church, is shown today.

Monastery and Church of Simeon the Righteous in Katamon

According to the same tradition, Simeon the righteous participated in the translation Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek (translation known as Septuaginta) and, knowing about the coming of the Messiah, asked God to give him the opportunity to see the Messiah before dying. His request was fulfilled, and it was he who pointed to the Mother of God with the baby Jesus in the Temple, saying “Now you let Thy servant go, Master, according to Thy word, in peace, For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all nations,...» (Luke 2: 25-32). The first monastery and church in Katamonakh were built by Georgian monks of the Holy Cross in the twelfth century. After their departure from Jerusalem, the monastery was abandoned and deserted. In 1879 the monk Abraham restored it by attaching the tomb of Simeon the Righteous to the northern wing of the church.

Jewish Temple and Western Wall

The famous Jewish Temple was built on the Moriah Hill, which is located in the east of Jerusalem. The history of Mount Moria as a Jewish cult center dates back to the tenth century BC. e., when King David bought it from Ornan of Eusea in order to build an altar-altar of Yahweh on this place (24: 18-25). In 960 BC. NS. King Solomon built the famous Jewish Temple on the site of the altar, which is the only religious center of Judaism. This first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. NS. and a few years later, in 520 BC. BC, rebuilt anew by Zerubbabel (Ezra 3: 8-9).

King Herod (37-4 BC) rebuilt the Temple and erected a new one, much more impressive. The new Temple was built on a high and spacious enclosure. External walls The temple complex is what remains today of the Temple of Herod. Wall of Tears - the most sacred place of pilgrimage for the Jews of the whole world - nothing more than the outer western wall of this complex. The building of the Temple in the era of Christ consisted of the Temple itself, Holy of Holies, a large altar for sacrifices, spacious covered galleries and courtyards, purification facilities and many ancillary rooms.

Wailing Wall during prayer

Underground passage along the Western Wall of the Christ era

In the eastern corner of the fence, Herod built a large building in the shape of a basilica, which was used as Central market and served as a meeting place for pilgrims. From the gallery of this basilica, the angry Christ expelled the money changers and merchants (John 2:13). In 70 A.D. NS. The temple was destroyed and burned by the legionnaires of the Roman emperor Titus. Since then, the place where the Temple stood remained abandoned and was not used until the Arab conquest of Jerusalem.

Omar and Al-Aqsa Mosques

Sixty years after the Arab conquest of Jerusalem, around 643 AD. e., Caliph Marouan built a famous mosque over the ruins of the fence of the Jewish Temple, which received the name Omar Mosque. In the center of the building is a huge rock, from which, according to Muslim tradition, Mohammed ascended to heaven. This rock was actually the threshing floor of Ornan of Eusea, which King David bought to build the altar of Yahweh.

Omar Mosque during prayer

Christian and Jewish traditions also identify this rock with the sacrifice of Abraham and with the large altar-altar of the Jewish Temple.

Seventy years later, around 710 AD. BC, another caliph, Abed el-Malik, built a large mosque over the northern part of the fence of the Jewish Temple Ale - Aksa. It was later believed that El Aqsa was built on a Christian basilica known as Nea ("New" in Greek), built by the Emperor Justinian.

Today, after the ruins of this huge Christian basilica in the eastern part of the Jewish Quarter were discovered, this assumption has become irrelevant.

The Crusaders converted the Omar Mosque into a church dedicated to the Lord (Templum Domini), and the El-Aqsa Mosque was converted into the palace of the Jerusalem kings (Templum Solomonis or Palatium).

In 1118, in this palace of the Crusaders was founded Order of the Knights Templar (templars).

In 1187 Saladdin returned these buildings to their original purpose - Muslim mosques, which after Mecca are the most sacred Muslim places of pilgrimage.

El Aqsa Mosque Interior

Israel may be the homeland of the Jews, but the Christian faith has been associated with the Holy Land for over 2,000 years, thanks to the story of Jesus of Nazareth. Whatever your faith, Israel has some impressive Christian sites that you must see. Here you will find a list of places you must visit. If you do not have time to see everything in one visit, this will be a reason to visit the Holy Land again.

• Bethlehem, where Jesus of Nazareth was born and which is especially interesting to visit during the holidays of Easter and Christmas.
• Jerusalem be sure to visit the holy city including the many sights and sounds of the old city.
• Qasr el Yahud, the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, deep in the wilderness.
• Nazareth, the city of Jesus' childhood, which today is home to the largest Christian church in the Middle East and other large places.
• In the footsteps of Jesus, a newly created route that follows in the footsteps of Jesus in Galilee, runs from Nazareth to Capernaum.
• Capernaum, "City of Jesus", where several churches and a museum of the life and teachings of Jesus.
• Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount and a tranquil oasis overlooking Lake Kinneret .
• Tabgha, a legendary feeding place for five thousand (with five loaves and two fishes).
• Georgievsky monastery, stunningly located on a cliff (one of the oldest in the world) in the heart of the Judean Desert.
• Bethsaida, home to three apostles: Peter, Andrew and Philip, and a series of Jesus' miracles.

Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth

Bethlehem is known to Christians all over the world as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth. Bethlehem is actually home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, even as its numbers are declining. A must-see place to see in Bethlehem is Church of the Nativity is probably the most significant Christian site in the world and one of the oldest functioning temples in the world. And definitely the place to go if you want to spend Christmas in the Holy Land.
The exact location of the birth of Jesus is in the underground grotto of the Church, marked with a silver 14-ray star. An excursion to Bethlehem especially attracts believing Christians, as an opportunity to join the sources of faith and see with their own eyes and touch the holy place of the birth of Jesus Christ - the Star of Bethlehem in the Grotto of the Nativity. If you are at the peak of the tourist season, you can observe the passion of some Christian pilgrims as they kneel to be a little closer to this magical star ...

Little known fact about Bethlehem: It is of great importance to all three major religions - as well as the most important Christian site in Israel. Muslims believe that Bethlehem was the main stop for prayer on the way of the Prophet Muhammad to Jerusalem, while the tomb of the foremother Rachel in Bethlehem is important for the Jews. Many women come here to pray, deprived of the happiness of motherhood.

Bethlehem is easier to get to with an organized bus tour. ...

Jerusalem

It is impossible to imagine a visit to Israel without visiting Jerusalem, which contains the holy places of all three major religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. We recommend that any visit to Israel includes the Old City of Jerusalem, there are so many interesting places to see! The main Christian sites both in Jerusalem and outside the Old City are the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the Church of All Nations.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher is considered the site of the crucifixion of Jesus and is therefore regarded as one of the most important Christian sites in Israel. It is more impressive on the inside than on the outside. This is one of the most emotional places to visit. Admission is free, open to all denominations from morning to evening most days.

Church of All Nations, along with the Garden of Gethsemane is located at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. Here Jesus is believed to have spent his last prayers before he was betrayed by Judas and then captured by the Romans. The Garden of Gethsemane, which is next to the Church of All Nations, is believed to have existed even during the time of Jesus and is a beautiful, peaceful place. It was here that Jesus and his disciples came after the Last Supper, and here Jesus gave his last sermon. Church of St. John the Baptist is located on a magnificent slope in the Ein Kerem neighborhood, a short drive from the center of Jerusalem. This church is famous for the birthplace of John the Baptist. The church itself is in a picturesque, quiet location and deserves a trip from the bustling city center.

Qasr el Yahud

The legendary place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, from Matthew 3: 13-17, It is also believed to be the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan.

Every year thousands of believers gather in Qasr el-Yahud to take part in the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord on the banks of the Jordan River.

Open daily to the public after extensive renovation works This place is a must-have on your list if you are interested in verifying Christian roots. It is on the road to Jericho

Nazareth, childhood of Jesus

Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel with a population of over 60,000, of which about 31 percent are Christians.

Because Jesus spent most of his childhood here, Nazareth has since been closely associated with Christianity and has attracted many pilgrims over the past two thousand years. Of particular note in Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest Christian church building in the Middle East.

There are a number of additional Christian sites in Nazareth worth visiting, including the Greek Orthodox Church Archangel Gabriel, the Greek Catholic “Synagogue Church” (the site of the synagogue where the young Jesus studied and where he later preached), and the Church of St. Joseph (built over a cave designated as the “workshop” of Father Jesus Joseph). you will find 10 must-see places in Nazareth.

In the footsteps of Jesus Christ

This newly created route quickly became a must-see for Christian tourists. It starts in Nazareth and ends at Lake Kinneret. Most of them can finish it in 3-4 days as it is a relatively easy excursion. This is the perfect excursion for those feeling fit and healthy and interested in seeing the stunning landscape of Galilee. There is also a one-day bus tour in the footsteps of Christ in Galilee, which you can find.

“City of Jesus”, Capernaum

Located on the northern shore of Lake Kinneret (Sea of ​​Galilee), in the small town of Capernaum (or Kfar Nachum in Hebrew), it is another important Christian site in Israel that you must visit. It is mentioned several times in the Bible and received the honorary title of the city of Christ, since Jesus Christ, visiting Galilee, most often stayed there. There are several churches in Capernaum dedicated to the life of Jesus, including the Church of St. Peter, big house from several rooms and an inner courtyard, which Jesus chose, as well as his house, and the synagogue, where Jesus often preached and performed miracles. These sites have been restored and turned into a museum. Also the monastery of the 12 Apostles.

Capernaum can be easily reached from other tourist sites such as Nazareth and Tiberias by bus or car.

Mount of Beatitudes

If you know the Bible well, you will be familiar with the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most famous sermons of all, and possibly one of the most famous speeches of all time. Some questions remain about the authenticity of the actual site where Jesus preached his sermon, but since 1600 it has been considered a small hill known as the Mount of Beatitudes (Har HaOsher in Hebrew), a favorite stop-over for tourists due to its magnificent view of Lake Kinneret.

Tabgha

The Tabgha Valley (Ein Sheva in Hebrew) is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Kinneret. It was here that several of the most important evangelical events for Christianity took place, the most famous of which was the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. Jesus fed 5 thousand people The most famous of them is the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish. Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. “He took five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave, and giving thanks, he broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided two fish among them all. ”.

The miracle of walking on water was performed here. In the same area, miracles were performed to calm the storm and fill the nets. Here Jesus appeared for the third time before his disciples after his resurrection.

Tabgha is located about 2.5 kilometers south of Capernaum, and only 12 kilometers north of Tiberias.

Monastery of Saint George

The amazing cliff-like monastery of St. George in the Judean Desert is one of the oldest and certainly one of the most inspiring churches in the Holy Land and must be seen!

And today you will find Greek Orthodox monks inhabiting the monastery, who tend to greet visitors (but given that this is a church and a place of worship - no short shorts). Therefore, you will probably see a waving Greek flag in the monastery grounds.

Bethsaida

Located north of the Kinneret, near the cities of Capernaum and Corazin. where the Jordan River flows into the Sea of ​​Galilee, Bethsaida is perhaps one of the lesser-known Christian sites in Israel, but worth a look if you're interested in visiting the sites of miracles: this is where Jesus is believed to have healed a blind man. Bethsaida is also known as the birthplace of three of the apostles, Peter, Andrew and Philip. There is some controversy regarding its exact location, but the site known as Bethsaida, or e-Tel, offers a lot to archeology aficionados on its 21 acres: there are even old cobbled streets from the days of Jesus.

Israel is a country where millions of people have been coming for many decades to see with their own eyes the cities and places connected with the life trials of Jesus and his mother, touch the shrines and feel with their souls, standing at the Western Wall, their involvement in history, regardless what nationality you are. Therefore, a trip to Israel to the holy places is a very popular tourist destination.

Jerusalem

A city that has gone through times of rise and decline, has seen different cultures and civilizations and is a shrine for many thousands of people of different religions - this is Jerusalem. The redemptive feat of Christ was accomplished here. Any tour of the holy places of Israel starts from here, from one of the ancient cities, the cradle of three religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The walls of the city were built by the Turks in the 16th century, and the stones from which they are built remember the times of Herod and the Crusaders. On the site of the ancient city gate, there is the Golden Gate, which attracts the attention of tourists.

According to Jewish beliefs, the Messiah was supposed to enter the city through this gate. Jesus made his entrance through them. Now the gates are walled up by Muslims so that the next Messiah would not be able to enter them. There are many legends associated with this gate. Tour guides always tell tourists and pilgrims an interesting fact that they are located at a depth of 5 meters. That is, the streets of Jerusalem are in basements.

Shrines of Jerusalem

The shrines of Judaism include the Temple Mount - Moria, the holy place revered by the Jews - the Wailing Wall and the cave in Hebron. Muslim shrines include the al-Aqsa mosque, where the prophet Muhammad was transferred to heaven by Allah. For Muslims, this is the third most spiritual city after Mecca and Medina. Christian shrines, first of all, are places associated with the birth and life of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, Christ preached, in the Garden of Gethsemane he turned to the Father, here he was betrayed and crucified, pilgrims from all over the world come here to Via Doloros. The trip is also interesting for tourists who like to travel to historical places. However, a trip to Israel to holy places at prices is not always available during Easter and Christmas. Usually, during this period, the cost of a plane ticket and service maintenance pilgrims and tourists are getting higher.

Temple Mount

In the Old Testament Bible, the Temple Mount is referred to as the site where the First Temple was built. It is here, according to the prophecy, that the Last Judgment should take place on the Day of Judgment. An interesting fact is that this shrine is equally claimed by Jews, Christians and Muslims. What has not happened in 2000 years on this top of Jerusalem! Jews and Christians who come to holy places in Israel consider themselves to be involved in the Temple Mount mentioned in the Bible.

The history of the events that took place has made its own corrections for many hundreds of years. Now the mountain is surrounded by high walls with a perimeter length of about 1.5 km, and on the square above the old city there are Muslim shrines - the Dome over the Rock and the al-Aqsa mosque. Christians and Jews can be on the Temple Mount, but praying is strictly prohibited, as well as bringing books and religious things that are not related to the Muslim faith.

Wall of Tears

Those who come on excursions to the holy places of Israel will certainly come to the miraculously survived ancient wall of the Second Temple. There are rules for how to behave at the Western Wall. So, if you face the Wall, men pray on the left, women on the right. A man must be wearing a kippah. According to an unknown established tradition, people place notes between the stones in the Wall with various requests to the Almighty. They are written mainly by tourists. When a lot of such notes are collected, they are collected and buried in a designated place near Shrovetide Mountain.

The Wailing Wall for the people of Israel is not only a symbol of mourning over the destroyed temples. Somewhere in the subconscious of the Jews, it is rather a prayer carried through the centuries, a prayer of an exiled people for the return from eternal exile and a request to the Lord God for the peace and unity of the Israeli people.

How the crucifixion site of Christ was found

The Romans, who destroyed Jerusalem, set up their pagan temples in the new city. And only in the time of Saint Constantine, when the persecution of Christians ceased, in the IV century, the question arose of finding the burial place of Jesus. Now they began to destroy the pagan temples and temples introduced by Hadrian in 135 - such is the story. Through many military expeditions called crusades, the liberation of the shrine from the infidels took place. And after some time, Queen Elena found the place where the Savior was crucified. At the behest of the queen, the construction of a temple began on this site. In 335, the temple was consecrated. Historians talk about its beauty and greatness. But less than 300 years later, he suffered from the Persians. In 1009 it was destroyed to the ground by Muslims, and only in 1042 it was rebuilt, but not in its former glory.

Church of the Ascension of Christ

The most important and most visited among the holy places of Christianity in Israel has always been the Church of the Ascension of Christ, or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Pilgrims arriving in Jerusalem first of all come to bow to the stone on which Jesus was anointed, in the temple of the Holy Sepulcher. The place where the temple was built and operates now, at the beginning of the first century, was outside the walls of Jerusalem, far from dwellings. Near the hill where Jesus was executed, there was a cave, in which Jesus was buried. According to their customs, the Jews buried the dead in caves, in which there were several halls with niches for the deceased and an anointing stone on which the body was prepared for burial. He was anointed with oils and wrapped in a shroud. The entrance to the cave was covered by a stone.

The temple with many halls and passages, including the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha, is located at the end of the road on which Jesus walked to Golgotha. Traditionally in Good Friday, before Orthodox Easter, walks along this path Procession... The procession moves through the Old Town, along Via Dolorosa, which means in Latin "the Way of Sorrow", and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Tourists who have come to make a pilgrimage to the holy places in Israel take part in this procession and worship.

Six Christian denominations, Armenian, Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic, Ethiopian and Syrian, have the right to hold services in the church. Each denomination has its own part of the complex and the time allotted for prayer.

Gethsemane garden

A unique attraction in Jerusalem, which is a must-see when visiting the holy places of Israel, is the garden located at the foot of the Mount of Olives. According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ prayed here before the crucifixion. Eight century-old olive trees grow in this garden, which are believed to have witnessed this prayer. Modern research methods have made it possible, on the basis of finding out the real age of the olives growing in the garden.

It turned out that their age is very respectable - nine centuries. The researchers concluded that all these trees are related to each other, as they have one parent tree, next to which Jesus himself may have passed. History has preserved the fact that during the capture of Jerusalem by the Romans, all the trees in the garden were completely cut down. But olives have persistent vitality and from strong roots they could give good shoots. This also gives confidence that the current trees of the garden are the direct heirs of the very ones that Jesus saw.

Birthplace of the Virgin

Visiting holy places in Israel includes a trip to the birthplace of the mother of Jesus Christ. Not far from the Sheep Gate, almost on the outskirts of the city, was the dwelling of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna. At present, there is a Greek temple on this site. Above entrance doors church inscription: "The Birth Place of Virgin Mary", which in translation - "Place of the Nativity Mother of God". To get into the premises of the house, you need to go down to the basement, since the present Jerusalem, as the guide said, is about 5 meters higher than the previous one.

Bethlehem and Nazareth

Pilgrims visiting the Christian holy sites of Israel come to Bethlehem to go to the Church of the Nativity of Christ, erected on the site where Jesus is believed to have been born.

The temple is over 16 centuries old. Believers come to the temple to touch the star installed in the place where the manger stood; visit the cave of Joseph and the cave with the burial of babies killed by order of Herod.

The next place of pilgrimage is the city where Jesus spent his childhood and youth. This is Nazareth. Here, in Nazareth, the Angel brought the Good News to the future mother of Christ Mary. Pilgrims and tourists, visiting holy places, always go to it and 2 more churches: St. Joseph and Over the past decade, the Old part of Nazareth has been updated and the architectural beauty of narrow streets has been restored.

Other holy sites in Israel

The usual program for tourists visiting the holy sites of Israel is very busy. Only one Jerusalem can be for weeks and every day to discover something new. In order to somehow squeeze the deadlines and meet the allotted time for the tour, the agencies organize priceless trips to the holy places of Israel in buses, accompanied by an interpreter guide, which are included in the tour. Of course, stops are made, there is an opportunity to take pictures for memory. From the bus window you can see the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus Christ delivered the famous Sermon on the Mount; drive through Cana of Galilee, where Christ turned water into wine. You can make a stop in the city of Jericho, which, according to experts, is more than 6 thousand years old.

Not far from the city there is the Mountain of Temptations and the Forty-Day Monastery, where Jesus fasted for 40 days after his baptism. The next stop is at the place of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. And the sign that swimming is prohibited here does not stop the group of tourists.

Travel time passes quickly. Impressions, photographs and some souvenirs will remind for a long time of the days spent in holy places. And, of course, recommendations to your friends and family: "Be sure to go to Israel." There are many places that one would like to see in the Promised Land, therefore pilgrims and tourists constantly come here to touch the holy places once again.

Scientists around the world agree that the capital of Israel is one of the oldest cities on the planet, already in the fourth millennium BC. on the site of Jerusalem there were human settlements. Since then, the city has grown and developed, experienced times of decline and prosperity, saw dozens of cultures and civilizations that whirled through its streets, leaving more or less noticeable traces on its appearance. Today Jerusalem is a sacred place for people of three different religions, Jews, Christians and Muslims. The city is rich in the most valuable historical and cultural heritage, representing a single shrine for millions of believers.

A complex web of religions

The first Temple appeared in the city during the reign of Solomon, since then Jerusalem has become the cultural and spiritual center of the Jewish people. Although the Temple was destroyed, the city embodied the unity of all Jews.

Jerusalem is incredibly important to Christianity. Here Jesus Christ lived, preached, addressed the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, here he was betrayed and crucified on Mount Calvary. Now on this place stands the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the road to it, Via Dolorosa, along which Christ was led to execution, is honored by all Christian pilgrims.
During the Byzantine Empire, temples, chapels and monasteries were built in Jerusalem along the Via Dolorosa route, which were called the Holy Gardens.

For Muslims, the sanctity of Jerusalem is so high that only Mecca and Medina surpass this city in spiritual significance. The capital keeps dozens of mosques on its streets, two of which, Qubbat As-Sakhra and Al-Aqsa, are of particular importance in Islam.

The capital of Israel has experienced many decisive historical events, changed and transformed, turning into a bright city rich in contrasts. Here, next to each other, there are ancient architectural structures and modern high-rises, people in robes, oriental shirts, business suits and modern T-shirts and jeans walk the streets. Jerusalem united under its roof different cultures, history, religion and tradition.

Har ha-Moriya or Temple Mount

The Jewish people in Jerusalem, in its Old City, has one of the main shrines, the Temple Mount. All over the world, believers turn their faces towards this mountain with prayers that the Third Temple will be built on it, which will rally all of humanity around itself. According to the prophecy, on the slopes of Mount Har ha-Moriya, the Last Judgment will take place on the Day of Judgment.

The Temple Mount unites Jews and Christians, whose religions originated from a single source; in the Old Testament, sacred to them, the mountain was repeatedly mentioned as the place on which the First Temple was built. Historical events of hundreds of years have led to the fact that now there are high walls around the mountain, and the square, towering over the Old City, has become a site for the construction of Muslim shrines.

Wailing Wall or A-Cauldron

This greatest shrine for the Jews is the surviving part of the ancient wall of the Second Temple, completely destroyed by the Romans in the seventieth year BC. Since then, believers have come to her with prayers and requests, spending several hours at her base. And today, Jews mourn the destruction of the Temple, ask the Almighty to restore unity and peace to the Israeli people.

Calvary or Place of execution

On a small hill, which later became known as Golgotha, Jesus Christ was crucified. The greatest shrine for all Christians is now located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but during the time of Christ's life this place was located outside Jerusalem. This hill received the name Golgotha ​​because of the skulls that were on it in order to intimidate the people. According to the ancient legend, Adam, the forefather of all people on Earth, was buried under this hill.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

This temple is also called the Jerusalem Temple of the Resurrection of Christ, because it was here, after the crucifixion and burial, that a miracle happened, and the Son of God was resurrected. In our time, this temple is a beautiful architectural structure, with a rather complex complex of passages and halls, enclosing in its walls both the Holy Sepulcher, and Golgotha, and several temples. At the beginning of the first century AD, this place was deserted, far from the city walls and its inhabitants, near the hill where executions were carried out, there was a cave, where Christ was buried by his followers.

Now in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, services of six religious denominations rule, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Syrian, Ethiopian and Coptic. Each denomination has its own territory in the temple and certain hours for prayer.

Gethsemane garden

On the slope of the Mount of Olives or the Mount of Olives, there are several thousand-year-old olives, huge and spreading trees, which at the time of Christ grew in a small garden that bore the name of Gethsemane.
In this garden, 2 thousand years ago, events took place, which are known in our time: it was here that Jesus pronounced his prayers on the night before his arrest. Thousands of tourists annually visit this place with one purpose, to stand by the olives, which could have witnessed those events.

The city where Jesus was born

“House of Bread” is how Bethlehem sounds in translation from Hebrew. The city is considered one of the oldest on the planet, the period of its origin is attributed to the 16-17 century BC. Founded on the land of Haane, ancient Bethlehem is mentioned more than once in Holy Scripture as the "House of David", because it was here that David was born, here he became the anointed one for the kingdom. In the vicinity of the city, events take place that are reflected in the book of Ruth. But Bethlehem is known to every Jew and Christian as the place where Jesus Christ was born, and from where, due to the order of King Herod to destroy all newborn boys and by the evil will of fate, his parents had to run away.

Pilgrims making religious tours in Israel arrive in Bethlehem to get to the Church of the Nativity of Christ, erected over the place where Christ was born. The temple is more than 16 centuries old, all this time believers come to the temple, touch the star installed at the birthplace of the child, visit the caves of Joseph and Jerome carved into the rocks and the cave of the babies killed by Herod.

In our time, there is a running of history in the city, a special atmosphere preserved by ancient buildings, streets and even stones on the pavements.

Capernaum

Translated from Hebrew, Capernaum means "the village of Naum", in ancient books they write about the city as a small town of fishermen, farmers and merchants, located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee (Lake Kinneret). This city plays a special role in the history of the development of Christianity. During the prosperity of the Roman Empire, the centurion of the Roman military garrison converted to Judaism and built a synagogue in the city, where after a while Christ preached and, according to legend, healed the mother-in-law of the Apostle Peter and performed many more miracles.
After the expulsion of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, he and his mother moved to Capernaum. But circumstances developed in such a way that he was expelled from this city as well. Seven centuries later, Jesus' prophecies about the fall of the city came true: Capernaum brings sand, only some parts are visible from under the silt and dunes. Many centuries later, a monastery was built near the city ruins and the same ancient synagogue was found.

Nazareth

In Nazareth, Jesus spent all his childhood and youth, here an Angel came to Mary and told her the Good News. In 1969 in the city of the Annunciation, the largest temple in the Middle East was built with donations from Catholic communities from around the world, admiring the exquisite interior decoration, mosaics and ceramic bas-reliefs.

According to an ancient legend, on the site of the temple was the house of Joseph, in which Mary lived, and where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her. A little off to the side there is the Fountain of the Virgin, at which Mary first saw the Angel. The fountain was located on the site of the built church of the Archangel Gabriel, the interior of which is decorated with graceful frescoes.

More recently, significant architectural changes have taken place in Nazareth, illumination - torches were installed on the walls of houses in the city center, pedestrian paths were built from which you can admire the panoramas of the surroundings, the entire center of Nazareth became a pedestrian zone.

Currently, the city has more than 25 churches and monasteries of various Christian denominations. A few kilometers from the city is Kfar Kan, the very place where Jesus performed the first miracle during the wedding ceremony, turning ordinary water into wine. Since then, couples have come to Kfar Kan for wedding ceremonies.

Tabgha

In Hebrew, the name of the city sounds like Ein Sheva, in Latin - Heptapegon, in Arabic - at-Tabhiya. If we translate all the names, each of them would mean “seven sources”. The name of the city confirms its unique location: there are 70 springs in the vicinity of the city. On the site of the city, several important events took place, which are written about in the Gospel: the multiplication of loaves and fish, filling fishing nets calming the stormy sea.
Once upon a time, a Byzantine church stood on the site of the Church of the Multiplication of Breads. According to legend, Jesus was sitting on the site of the church during one of his miracles. The modern church is built in the form of a basilica, decorated with magnificent mosaics. According to legend, under the main altar there is a stone on which Christ put five loaves and two fish.

Safed

Safed or Safed is located in the north of the country, a few tens of kilometers from Haifa. The city by the standards of Israel can be called alpine, it is located at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level.

Safed is ranked among the four most important cities for the Jews, over the centuries of which there have been many significant events... During the Roman and Byzantine empires, Safed was the center of education; in the Middle Ages, the city turned into a large metropolis for those times, to which Jews expelled from Spain arrived. It was in this city that the first printing house in the Middle East was built, it happened in the 16th century. By that time, the city had become the center of Kabbalah for believers around the world.

The city can tell a lot of secrets and fascinating things, its ancient fortresses, synagogues, shores of many secrets. And now the atmosphere of the city attracts creative people, sculptors, actors, writers, and in the artists' quarter every town house is an original piece of architecture. Every year Safed hosts exhibitions, shows, art galleries and theaters.

Part 1

The impressions from our trip to the places of power of Israel and Jordan were the most positive. The tour was only 12 days long, but it seemed like at least two months had passed. I liked the logic of the route, the service and the variety of landscapes and our activities. We visited three seas, deserts and oases, we drove the cars ourselves, looking for the necessary objects according to navigators and the advice of taxi drivers, somewhere we listened to guides, somewhere we walked ourselves, led with an inner voice, swam on the water and under water, wearing masks and bathyscaphes ... in general - everything turned out very impressive and informative.

When you travel in order to experience the places of power of the earth, there are always unexpected surprises, sometimes instructive, sometimes just joyful and surprising.

We can say that it all started at Sheremetyevo airport, where, before registration, we unexpectedly meet with our friends and associates - Oksana and Oleg. We were together in Kailash, and in Peru, and in America ... I did not invite them to Israel, because I knew that they had already been here. How great was the mutual surprise when we learned that we were flying the same flight to Tel Aviv!

At the Tel Aviv airport, while she was figuring out who was meeting us and on which bus, she somehow imperceptibly left her suitcase for everyone. Found, of course, already at the hotel. Since we had a program planned for the day, I tried to resolve the issue by phone, connecting our partners, even talked to the airport security by phone and gave an oral portrait of my luggage.
So we went for a walk in the Mediterranean Sea and get to know the evening city.

The many seaside hotels in Tel Aviv make it a favorite holiday destination in the season.

Now it was cool to sunbathe, but still I wanted to swim or at least swing my feet in the gentle surf.

Everyone loved the Mediterranean!

The stunning sunset played with colors. It is so difficult to choose one from hundreds of pictures!

In the evening, in one of the ice cream cafes, we set up our navigators, plotting tomorrow's route.

The next day I was informed that my suitcase had not yet been found, and there were no lost things in the cell. Well, no, no, I decided, annoyed that now I have to spend time buying something necessary, instead of learning cultural and historical values. We rented cars (here they take a very decent deposit and only with credit card!) and drove to Jaffa - the oldest port city on the Mediterranean coast.

A stone ridge is visible in the sea - these are the remains of the Andromeda rock. It was here that the ancient Greek story of the rescue of the beautiful Andromeda by Perseus took place. The king's daughter was chained to be sacrificed to the sea monster, but Perseus killed the monster with the head of the Gorgon Medusa and freed the princess.

The coastal part of the city is all built of shell rock. There are cafes and shops in small courtyards. There are also manufactories and workshops of artists and small exhibitions of ancient things found during excavations.

We loved the 3D performance in the small archaeological museum on Kikar Kedumin Square in Jaffa, built over the excavation site - visual, simple and fun! We advise you to visit!

After enjoying the hospitality of the city, we went to Jerusalem. On the way, we stopped at the airport and within 10 minutes (!) Received my suitcase! It turns out that before getting to the lost items department, luggage was first stored in the airline departments, and an Aeroflot tag hung on my luggage. An almost English-looking Maine in a suit with a bow tie solemnly rolled out my bag. Conclusion: personal presence can work wonders, but phone calls are not always.

We got to Jerusalem quickly on the highway, but in the city itself we had to scroll three times, since there are a lot of one-way streets near the old city and the navigator could not cope with this task. Rescued by benevolent Russian-speaking Israelis!

Early in the morning we went on an excursion to Bethlehem.

By purchasing a tour to Bethlehem, we saved ourselves from all the problems in crossing the border into Palestine. A bus with a Palestinian chauffeur quickly reached the Church of the Nativity of Christ. Although it was not a public holiday, groups of pilgrims gathered in the square in front of the temple to touch the shrine.

The temple itself is beautiful and great. It was erected in 322 over the cave in which Jesus Christ was born.

Remains of Byzantine mosaics have been preserved on the walls and columns.

In the center, the marble floor was opened to reveal an ancient mosaic from the time of Emperor Constantine.

It is interesting to see how the elements of the ornament roam in different traditions, religions and eras. The swastika, an ancient Zoroastrian symbol of the sun, passed to India, Tibet, and here in the citadel of Christianity we see a swastika, which means, according to Christian canons, a rotating cross. In the next fragment, there is also a recognizable symbol that is available in all cultures and patterns (including Russian folk ones) - an endless knot symbolizing eternity or eternal life.

Our guide took us past the 2-hour queue (another advantage of the group tour!) Directly to the holy of holies of the temple - the cave where Jesus Christ was born.

The fourteen-ray star of Bethlehem marks the place of birth, and next to it in the grotto there was a manger in which Mary put the newborn baby. We were very lucky, for some reason there were few people, and for about half an hour we stood in awe at the sacred place.

Saint Jerome in 386 settled in a cave nearby and spent here in prayer until 420. During this period, Blessed Jerome wrote many church works, but most importantly, he re-translated the books of the New and Old Testament into Latin. This translation, called the Vulgate, came into general use in the Western Church.

The border of Palestine with Israel is marked concrete wall... From the Palestinian side, we saw the design of this wall, very unusual for the border.

Since we were on a licensed sightseeing bus, the border guards just smiled at us and we quickly rushed to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem
Shrovetide Mountain overlooks Old city- one of the most amazing places on the planet. Here is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher next to the great shrine of Muslims, a small patch of land, which for millennia passed from one ruler to another, some temples were destroyed and new ones were erected on their basis.

Camels have always lived in these deserted places, now they are here only for photography.

The Garden of Gethsemane grew on the slopes of the mountain, and the Gethsemane temple was erected at the foot of the mountain.

We entered the old city through the lion's gate, wandered along the narrow ancient streets.

We visited the Armenian, Jewish, Greek, Muslim quarters ... You will not find anyone here! We went to cafes and shops with national workshops.

But, of course, the main thing - they visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where the plate is kept, on which the body of Christ, removed from the crucifixion, was anointed with myrrh.

It makes no sense to write here about Jerusalem, since there are volumes of history ...! The place is truly extraordinary and is a universal planetary center!