Jerusalem- the center of the world. Sacred to all three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jerusalem became the birthplace of Christianity in the first century AD, one thousand years after David. As the location of both the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Jerusalem is also referred to as the Holy City of this faith. While Constantine spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire in the 4th century, the Christian desire to reclaim the Holy Land from the infidels arose a millennium after the Crucifixion, when the Crusaders slaughtered and exiled both Muslims and Jews. Christian reign of the city lasted approximately 100 years until the Muslims led by Saladin finally recaptured Jerusalem.
The road to Jerusalem.
This is the view from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus campus. It was around late afternoon when our tour bus arrived at the eternal city of Jerusalem.
By building mosques beside Christianity's Holy sites and their minarets towering over the Basilica, this is one sinister way of muslims trampling and humiliating Christians. This can be observed in muslim-dominated areas of the Holy Land.
Mount of Olives is the hill facing the old city of Jerusalem, on the eastern side of Kidron valley. Its name came from the olive trees that once grew on its hillside from ancient times. According to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will appear here and bring the dead back to life. Therefore, the hillside became the most holiest cemetery, and the hillside is covered by thousands of grave stones.
Mount of Olives is the hill facing the old city of Jerusalem, on the eastern side of Kidron valley. Its name came from the olive trees that once grew on its hillside from ancient times. According to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will appear here and bring the dead back to life. Therefore, the hillside became the most holiest cemetery, and the hillside is covered by thousands of grave stones.
Mount of Olives is located across the Kidron creek, and and its thousands of grave stones cover the entire hillside. On top of the hill is the hotel Seven Arches, once the Intercontinental Hotel. The hill's peak is 830M above sea level, 100M above the old city. The hill north to it is Mount Scopus, the base of the Romans during the siege on Jerusalem, and the site of the first place of the Hebrew University.
The city of Jerusalem has been surrounded by walls for its defense since ancient times.
Hagia Maria Sion Abbey is a Benedictine abbey in Jerusalem on Mt. Zion just outside the walls of the Old City near the Zion Gate. It was formerly known as the Abbey of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, but the name was changed in 1998 in reference to the church of Hagia Sion that formerly stood on this spot.
The walls of Jerusalem, which were built originally to protect the borders of the city against intrusions, mainly serve as an attraction for tourists since they ceased to serve as a means of protection for the city.
The "Golden Gate" was located in the East wall of Jerusalem; it was one of eleven entrance gates into the city. A little background on the East gate of Jerusalem: The East gate was walled up by the Ottoman Turks in 1530 A.D. Notice also the cemetery that has been planted in front of it. Many believe this was done to prevent the entrance of the Jewish Messiah through that gate as was foretold by known Old Testament prophecies. However, Ezekiel prophesied the shutting of this gate itself around 600 B.C. -- that it would be shut "because the LORD (Jehovah or Yahweh), the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut." The Eastern gate is presently considered by the Arabs to be their exclusive property. It is sealed up and blocked off. However one day, the Messiah will land on the Mount of Olives, with all His saints, and walk down to and right through the Eastern Gate and into the Temple area.
Dominick the donkey.
The view below is towards the north-east side of the old city, with the small tear-shaped Dominus Flevit in the center and behind it is the Russian Monastery.
The Catholic pilgrims with Father Rymdeika.
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