Holy Land III June 9-19, 2011
Jerusalem A map of
Jerusalem shows the
areas into which the
city is divided. Walls
have come and gone
but they generally
encircle the "old city."
There are few of the old
gates left, certainly not
the main one, which
took 20 men to open
and close each day.
However, there are
many gates through the
old walls and all have
names.
Below is from the Israel
Museum, a 50-1 model
of Jerusalem at Jesus'
time. It's about 85%
accurate with all
archaeological
evidence at play.
Jerusalem shows the
areas into which the
city is divided. Walls
have come and gone
but they generally
encircle the "old city."
There are few of the old
gates left, certainly not
the main one, which
took 20 men to open
and close each day.
However, there are
many gates through the
old walls and all have
names.
Below is from the Israel
Museum, a 50-1 model
of Jerusalem at Jesus'
time. It's about 85%
accurate with all
archaeological
evidence at play.
Top left: Jerusalem's Holiest of Holies, the temple Herod finished.
The original temple was built by King Solomon on the Temple Mount,
probably on a site of an earlier temple of the conquered Jebusites.
Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the temple after the Siege of
Jerusalem of 587 B.C. Cyrus, King of Persia, allowed the Jews to
return to Israel and rebuild their temple. It was completed in 518 B.C.
In 19 B.C. King Herod finished the temple. In 70 A.D. the Romans
leveled Herod's temple. He was Herod Agrippa I, who had all male
babies of Jesus' age in Bethlehem killed. One of his sons, Herod
Antipas, tried Jesus. The only thing left of the area is part of the
western wall, one of the four huge retaining walls that surrounded
the Temple Mount. Today the Mosque of the Dome sits right where
the original two Jewish temples were.
Top right, a view of the city, with the Temple at the top right. Across
from the valley, bottom right, is the Garden of Gethsemane.
To the left, a view of Jerusalem, driving in from the north.
The original temple was built by King Solomon on the Temple Mount,
probably on a site of an earlier temple of the conquered Jebusites.
Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the temple after the Siege of
Jerusalem of 587 B.C. Cyrus, King of Persia, allowed the Jews to
return to Israel and rebuild their temple. It was completed in 518 B.C.
In 19 B.C. King Herod finished the temple. In 70 A.D. the Romans
leveled Herod's temple. He was Herod Agrippa I, who had all male
babies of Jesus' age in Bethlehem killed. One of his sons, Herod
Antipas, tried Jesus. The only thing left of the area is part of the
western wall, one of the four huge retaining walls that surrounded
the Temple Mount. Today the Mosque of the Dome sits right where
the original two Jewish temples were.
Top right, a view of the city, with the Temple at the top right. Across
from the valley, bottom right, is the Garden of Gethsemane.
To the left, a view of Jerusalem, driving in from the north.
Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, southeast corner: Immaculate Conception and Pool of
Bethesda St. Anne's Church, the sight of the Immaculate Conception, that is, that Mary was
conceived without sin. This was the home of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne.
It is near the famous Bethesda Pools, Sheep's Gate Pool, where Jesus cured a man who had been
sick for 38 years (John 5:1-9). The pools below center show the way they were at Jesus' time.
Right are the ruins of a Byzantine Church (St. Helen) near the Pools.
Bethesda St. Anne's Church, the sight of the Immaculate Conception, that is, that Mary was
conceived without sin. This was the home of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne.
It is near the famous Bethesda Pools, Sheep's Gate Pool, where Jesus cured a man who had been
sick for 38 years (John 5:1-9). The pools below center show the way they were at Jesus' time.
Right are the ruins of a Byzantine Church (St. Helen) near the Pools.
Visitation Ein Kerem is now a hilly Jewish neighborhood in the southwest area of
Jerusalem. It is where the Visitation took place: Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, mother of
John the Baptist (Luke 1: 39-45, 56-60; Magnificat Luke 1: 46-55). We visited that Church,
where Zachariah and Elizabeth lived, at right, then celebrated Mass at the nearby Church of St.
John the Baptist, their son. Below is the traditional spot where John the Baptist was born.
Jerusalem. It is where the Visitation took place: Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, mother of
John the Baptist (Luke 1: 39-45, 56-60; Magnificat Luke 1: 46-55). We visited that Church,
where Zachariah and Elizabeth lived, at right, then celebrated Mass at the nearby Church of St.
John the Baptist, their son. Below is the traditional spot where John the Baptist was born.
Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread," is the place where Jesus was born, in a cave and it's the only holy site not destroyed
by the Persians. When Chosroes II invaded Jerusalem in 614 he unexpectedly did NOT destroy the Church of the Nativity. According
to legend, their commander, Shahrbaraz, was moved by the depiction inside the Church of the Three Magi wearing Persian clothing.
The first evidence of a cave in Bethlehem being venerated as Christ's birthplace is in the writings of Justin Martyr around 160 AD.
The tradition is also attested by Origen and Eusebius in the 3rd century. Luke: 2:1-7; Matthew: 2 18--2:12
Personal opinion: The Church of the Nativity, cared for by the Greek Orthodox Church, is dark, dirty and decaying. It is a disgrace.
Adjacent to this Church is Roman Catholic St. Catherine's Church, as light, clean and well-preserved as the Church of the Nativity is
not.
Below are two photos of the place, traditionally, in a star, where Jesus was born. The entrance is built low to keep people from
entering Jesus' birthplace on horseback. Far right the mosaic of the Three Magi, dressed like Persians.
by the Persians. When Chosroes II invaded Jerusalem in 614 he unexpectedly did NOT destroy the Church of the Nativity. According
to legend, their commander, Shahrbaraz, was moved by the depiction inside the Church of the Three Magi wearing Persian clothing.
The first evidence of a cave in Bethlehem being venerated as Christ's birthplace is in the writings of Justin Martyr around 160 AD.
The tradition is also attested by Origen and Eusebius in the 3rd century. Luke: 2:1-7; Matthew: 2 18--2:12
Personal opinion: The Church of the Nativity, cared for by the Greek Orthodox Church, is dark, dirty and decaying. It is a disgrace.
Adjacent to this Church is Roman Catholic St. Catherine's Church, as light, clean and well-preserved as the Church of the Nativity is
not.
Below are two photos of the place, traditionally, in a star, where Jesus was born. The entrance is built low to keep people from
entering Jesus' birthplace on horseback. Far right the mosaic of the Three Magi, dressed like Persians.
Below are Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity and the entrance to the now Israeli-built-walled city of Bethlehem.
What's missing are the armed Israeli soldiers and the higher walls, now covered with all kinds of political grafitti.
What's missing are the armed Israeli soldiers and the higher walls, now covered with all kinds of political grafitti.
Below are: a view of the inside of the Church of the Nativity, a mosaic of the Nativity and a view of modern-dayBethlehem.
Church of the Angels in Shepherd's Field east of downtown
Bethlehem. Inside the Church is the cave where the shepherds heard of
the news of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus, the Christ.
(Luke 2: 3-20) This was one of the many holy places where we celebrated
Mass. I was the Lector in this particular Church. Gave me goose bumps.
Bethlehem. Inside the Church is the cave where the shepherds heard of
the news of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus, the Christ.
(Luke 2: 3-20) This was one of the many holy places where we celebrated
Mass. I was the Lector in this particular Church. Gave me goose bumps.
Other sites we saw: Jerusalem
gate and some residents. It's nice
to visit places in the late spring and
early summer. Flora is at its best.
Yvonne and Wanda in the Garden
of Gesthemane
gate and some residents. It's nice
to visit places in the late spring and
early summer. Flora is at its best.
Yvonne and Wanda in the Garden
of Gesthemane
