Foto Friday - Israel day 4

On the fourth day, we departed Galilee for Jerusalem...and the scenery changed dramatically.

 

The advances Israel has made in agriculture are amazing, as evidenced by this lush field of corn in the middle of the Judean wilderness.

This photograph is self-explanatory, nonetheless it was taken from where our bus dropped us off to begin our walking tour.

Mount of Olives, where Jesus stood and wept over Jerusalem.

Mount of Olives - Jewish cemetery that has been used for over 3,000 years and holds approximately 150,000 graves.  Many Jews have wanted to be buried here based on the tradition that when the Messiah comes, the resurrection of the dead will begin here. (Zechariah 14:4)

The Golden Gate, the oldest of the current gates in Jerusalem...across the street from the Garden of Gethsemane.

Church of All Nations. The Garden of Gethsemane is seen to the left of the church's facade.

Inside the Church of All Nations.

The bedrock where Jesus is believed to have prayed. I experienced my most holy moment of the trip while praying here.

The sign at the entrance to the Garden of Gethsemane. I included this photograph only because of the "face" that seems to be reflected in it.

The Garden of Gethsemane.

We left Jerusalem and traveled to Bethlehem, Palestinian territory. This is a Franciscan church at The Shepherd's Field, believed to be the location of the angelic announcement.

The Shepherd's Field.

The Shepherd's Field, inside a cave representative of the one Jesus was likely to have been born in.

Next, we visited the Church of the Nativity, where two churches, one Greek Orthodox and the other Roman Catholic, stand over the site believed to be the actual birthplace of Jesus. Pictured here is the fourteen-point silver star that marks the spot. Pilgrims wait in very long lines to kneel here and reach into the opening to touch the rock which lies beneath.

I took this while waiting in line to show how ornately decorated the Greek Orthodox church is. The gold wall pictured, with all the lamps and icons, stands behind the altar of the church. The birthplace of Jesus is housed behind and beneath this wall.

The Roman Catholic church is obviously much more understated. I love this cathedral ceiling.

Next up, day 5...