Ein Karem, Church of the Visitation, Muslim Quarter markets, Monastery of the Flagellation, Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Q)

The village of Ein Karem in the Jerusalem hills  located 5 miles from Jerusalem. According to Christian tradition, John the Baptist was born in Ein Karem.  There have been many churches and monasteries in this town over the years.  Ein Karem attracts 3 million visitors a year, 1/3 of them pilgrims from around the world. This is a photo that shows all the trees that the Israeli have planted.  90% of the trees in Israel have been planted to make Israel more beautiful.

 The Church of the Visitation-is in Ein Karem commemorating Mary's visit to Elizabeth. Luke 1

Church of the Visitation

A cave in the Church of the Visitation which is traditionally identified as the birth place of John the Baptist.

Painting of Elizabeth holding John

Because we were visiting the Holy Land around Christmas time, we were able to see a variety of nativity scenes  still on display in churches.

Luke 1:46-55 written in 47 languages on the wall facing the Church of the Visitation

Because our tour guide It is hard to keep up with our tour guide! 

The Damascus Gate leading into the Old City.

The next 3 photos are exploring the market in the Muslim Quarter in the Old City

The Monastery of the Flagellation built on the site traditionally associated with where  the Roman soldiers flogged Jesus after he was convicted and sentenced to death. 

The decoration above the door represents Jesus' crown of thorns

The central stained glass window in the Monastery of the Flagellation.

The mosaic design of a crown of thorns is on the ceiling dome in the Monastery of the Flagellation.

Painting in the Church of the Condemnation where it is the traditional spot where Jesus took up the cross after being sentenced to crucifixion.

Church of the Condemnation. The Latin inscriptions says "then he released Barabbas to them" Matt 27:26

An arch over the Via Dolorosa Street

Delicious bread for sale a long the Vis Dolorosa

The Via Dolorosa street in Jerusalem traditionally traces the last steps of Jesus Christ from where he was tried to Calvary where he was crucified and the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he is said to have been buried. There are many stations of the Cross a long the Via Dolorosa.  Here is Cross # 4 Jesus meets his mother, Mary.  This point is in front of the Armenian Church of our Lady of the Spasm which is built over an earlier Crusader church. This sculpture above the door shows the grief of Mary as she sees her son walking to his death.

Traveling along the Vis Dolorosa

# 6 Station of the Cross where Veronica wiped the face of Jesus

Station # 5 where Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Jesus

Interesting name for a cafe

It was fun to see a BYU  T-shirt displayed outside a shop in the Muslim Quarter

Israel has strawberries as delicious as California.

#9 Station of the Cross  where Christ fell for the third time.

Tower of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Ethiopian Orthodox Monastery, a cluster of small buildings on the roof of the Chapel of St. Helena . The chapel is on the lower floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The monastery is inhabited by a community of Ethiopian  monks.

Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The altar over the Rock of Crucifixion. This rock of Golgotha where it is believed that Jesus was put to death.

You can kneel down and touch the rock. It is believed that this is the site of Calvary.

After seeing the Rock  of Golgotha  inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we were soon in a huge mass of people  about 14 visitors across.  Our tour group was holding hands to prevent people behind us from squeezing through.  Our guide told us if we didn't make a human rope we would never get to the small door that leads into the Aedicule, Tomb of Christ. We waited in the line for about an hour inching our way forward until we were finally funneled into a small opening that only 4 people were allowed to enter at one time for about 4 minutes and then had to exit and another 4 would come in.

People would light candles at the entrance.

As you go through the small entrance you enter the first chamber of Christ's tomb, the Chapel of the Angel. There is a fragment of the blocking stone of the Ssepulchre  in this small room.

Then you go through another small opening into the Tomb of Jesus. A very small room with a marble lid which  covers the tomb.  

You can light a candle and pray but no one can stay long because of the many people waiting to enter this Holy site.

The best piece of evidence that the tomb of Jesus was in this area is that other first century tombs are still preserved inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

More market photos

It was fun to stroll through the markets in the Muslim Quarter.

I wish I knew what dishes were being made in these pans.

Mount of Olives, Cemetery, Dominus Flevit Church and Garden of Gethsemane (P)

The Mount of Olives Cemetery has been used for over 3,000 years. Jews wait until the coming of the Messiah when they will be resurrected.  This is the holiest place for those in the Jewish faith to be buried. Jews pay a lot of money to be buried here as much as $22, 500 for a plot.  The cemetery is quite close to the Old City and it overlooks the Temple Mount. 

View looking toward the Temple Mount across the Kidron Valley from the Mount of Olives

It is hard to tell who is cutest- the donkey or the old man.

A man trying to persuade dad to buy something.

A camel taking a rest. It is really interesting to watch a camel get into this position. Their back legs bend in a weird way.

There is not much room left in the Mount of Olives Cemetery.

 The Dominus Flevit Church is a Roman Catholic church built on the side of the Mount of Olives. It was built between 1953-55.  During the construction archaeologist uncovered artifacts from the Canaanite period and tombs from the Second Temple and Byzantine eras. Dominus Flevit is Latin for :The Lord wept." The church is built in the shape of a tear drop to symbolize the tears of Christ.  While walking towards the city of Jerusalem, Jesus became overwhelmed  and wept because of the beauty of the second temple and predicting its future destruction. Luke 19:37-42

Inside Dominus Flevit church looking at Jerusalem through the glass window.

View  of the Old City Wall and the cemetery while walking down the Mount of Olives

It was a spiritual experience to be able to visit the Garden of Gethsemane  and contemplate what happened here.  It is hard to understand how Christ could atone for everyone's sins but I know Christ did it and I'm so grateful for His great sacrifice that made it possible for me to have the opportunity to return to live with my Heavenly Father. I have been so blessed to be able to use the atonement in my life to repent, follow Christ's example and try to become more like Him.

Ron standing by the oldest olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is over 2,000 years old, so it dates back to the time of Christ.

Garden of Gethsemane

Garden of Gethsemane