GUIDE-BOOK FOR APRIL 2013 HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE. (Please bring this along for reference during the pilgrimage)

Transcription

1 GUIDE-BOOK FOR APRIL 2013 HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE (Please bring this along for reference during the pilgrimage) Compiled by Joseph Tan (For April 2013) Flight Outbound: Homebound: Monday, April 8 th morning. Likely (a) Air Canada LH5409 Vancouver-Toronto, (b) Lufthansa 471 Toronto- Frankfurt, (c) Lufthansa 686 Frankfurt-Tel Aviv arriving April 9 th 2:50 p.m. Friday, April 19 th very early morning Likely (a) Lufthansa 691 Tel Aviv-Frankfurt, (b) Lufthansa 492 Frankfurt- Vancouver arriving April 19 th 2:20 p.m. Israel is 10 hours ahead of Vancouver time Accommodation Jerusalem: Galilee : April 9 th (in) 16 th (out) Notre Dame Guest House, Jerusalem, Israel (Phone 972(2) ) April 16 th (in) April 19 th (out) Scots Hotel, Tiberias, Israel Full Itinerary April 8, Monday: Vancouver Leave Vancouver April 9, Tuesday: Jerusalem Arrive at Tel Aviv airport Proceed to Notre Dame Guest House Optional Mass at Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Tomb of Jesus or Calvary) at 5:00 p.m. (or 6:00 p.m.) and procession with the Franciscans afterwards or Mass at Notre Dame 6:30 p.m. April 10, Wednesday: Ein Karem and Bethlehem Optional first Mass at the Tomb of Jesus at 5:30 a.m. (See direction at bottom of Page 3) Church of St. John the Baptist Church of the Visitation Bethlehem University (Lunch at BU) Church of the Nativity Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria (Mass) Shepherd's Field April 11, Thursday: Jerusalem & Bethany Ophel at the Southern Wall Western (wailing) Wall Al Aksa Esplanade 1

2 St. Anne's Church (Mass) Bethsaida Pool Church of St. Lazareth and Tomb of Lazareth Shrine of the Books and Model of Old Jerusalem April 12, Friday: Old Jerusalem Tour of Old Jerusalem including Cardo Tour of first 9 stations and Convent of the Sisters of Zion Way of the Cross with the Fransciscans at 3:00 p.m. Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Mass 6:00 p.m. at Calvary) April 13, Saturday: Mount of Olives and Mount Zion Sanctuary of Bethphage Dome of Ascension Church of the Pater Noster Church of Dominus Flevit Church of All Nations (Mass) Grotto of Gethsemane and Tomb of the Virgin St. Peter in Gallicantu The Cenacle, Dormition Abbey and Tomb of David April 14, Sunday: Judean Desert Qumran Dead Sea Mt. of Temptation (up to the mountain) Elijah s Spring Jericho (Mass at Notre Dame or Church of Holy Sepulchre) April 15, Monday: Jerusalem Yad Vashem Audience with the Latin patriarch (Mass at the Latin Patriarchate Cathedral) April 16, Tuesday: Emmaus, Mediterrameam Coast Abu Ghosh Crusaders Church Monastery of Latrun Emmaus Caesarea Maritima Haifa - Stella Maris (Mass) Check in Scots Hotel April 17, Wednesday: Nazareth, Cana and Mount Tabor Grotto of Annunciation (Mass) & Church of St. Joseph Orthodox Church of St. Gabriel The Synagogue Church Church of Cana Mt. Tabor - Basilica of Transfiguration 2

3 April 18, Thursday: Capernaum, Tabgha and Banias Tiberius and boat ride across Sea of Galilee Capernaum Domus Ecclesia Church (Mass) Capernaum White Synagogue Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes Church of Primacy Church of the Beatitudes Banias (Caesarea Philippi) (Vigil Mass at Notre Dame before dinner) April 19, Friday: Early morning Proceed to Tel Aviv airport Direction from Notre Dame to Church of the Holy Sepulchre 1) Cross main road at the lights 2) Turn right and walk along the city wall and take the New Gate on your left to enter city (you are now on Bab El-Jadid Rd.) 3) Walk down on Bab El-Jadid Rd. and turn left at T-section onto Freres Rd. 4) Walk straight down until Casa Nova Hotel is in front of you, then take small alley (Casa Nova Rd.) on left of the hotel 5) Turn left immediately after the alley (you are on Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Rd. with Old City Medical Clinic on your right) 6) Walk down Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Rd. and turn right at T-section at the end of the steps 7) Walk down alley and take note of names of side streets on your left 8) When you see St. Helen s Rd., turn into it on the left 9) Walk down St. Helen s Rd. until you are in front of the Omar Mosque 10) When Omar Mosque entrance is in front, turn left and immediately right 11) Go down the steps and you see the Church of Holy Sepulchre on your left. Note: There are people living in the shops and on the floors above the shops. Please refrain from talking or make loud noises when you pass through in the early morning 3

4 April 8, Monday - Vancouver In transit from Vancouver to Toronto, from Toronto to Frankfurt and from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv arriving at Tel Aviv around 3:00 p.m. on April 9 th April 9, Tuesday - Jerusalem Depending on the traffic, we should arrive at Notre Dame Guest House at 4:30 p.m. Those who want to attend Mass and join the Franciscan Procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre must leave Notre Dame at 4:45 p.m. Those who want to attend 6:30 p.m. Mass at Notre Dame, the chapel is on the 2nd floor. Dinner will be at 7:15 p.m. and the restaurant is on the main floor. April 10, Wednesday - Ein Karem and Bethlehem Ein Karem The Church of St. John the Baptist Located at the entrance to Ein Karem, and recognizable by its tall tower, the Church of St. John the Baptist is situated on the site where, according to tradition, John the Baptist was born, in the house of Zechariah. The church was completed in Steps in the sanctuary lead down to a small grotto where it is believed John the Baptist was born. Beneath the building, ancient ruins dating back to the Byzantine period (Eastern Roman Empire) were found as well as remains of a mosaic inlaid floor. Excavations have also revealed an ancient olive press and a statue of Aphrodite the Greek goddess, which has been stored at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem. Lk 1: [57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. [58] And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father, [60] but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." [61] And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. [64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. [65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. [67] And his father Zechari'ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, [68] "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, [69] and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, [70] as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, [71] that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; [72] to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, [73] the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, [74] to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, [75] in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. [76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, [77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, [78] through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high [79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." [80] And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. The Church of the Visitation The Church of the Visitation is built high on a mountain slope overlooking a beautiful valley in the western suburbs of Jerusalem. According to the scriptures, it was the place where Elizabeth went into seclusion for five months after she conceived with John the Baptist (Lk 1:24) and it was on a hill (Lk 1:39-56) where Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit her 4

5 and Zechariah. This exquisite church was designed and built by the famous architect, Antonio Barluzzi, who combined Crusader elements with later styles. In the top section at the front of the church, a remarkable mosaic depicts the coming of Mary, riding a donkey, to the City of Judah - Ein Karem. The Church has a lovely arcade. In the cappella are an ancient well, beautiful mosaics, and several lovely paintings; silhouettes of Mary and Elizabeth, a painting of Roman soldiers killing firstborn sons by the order of King Herod, and an angel hiding John the Baptist in a crevice in a rock. On the ground floor stands the rock said to have hidden John the Baptist from Herod s soldiers, and on the walls are three superb frescoes, one of which portrays Zechariah burning incense on the Temple altar. The second shows the visitation of Gabriel to Zechariah, and the third depicts Elizabeth hiding John the Baptist, with the help of the angel. Lk 1:[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, Lk 1:[39]In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, [40] and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." [46] And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [48] for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; [49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. [51] He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, [52] he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; [53] he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. [54] He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, [55] as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." [56] And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. Bethlehem Bethlehem was called Ephrata in the Old Testament time and where David was born and anointed. Since Joseph was of the house and lineage of David, he brought Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child, to Bethlehem, to register for the census. The Church of the Nativity built in 339 A.D. by Constantine is the oldest Christian church in the world having been spared during the Persian invasion in 614 AD when all the other Constantine churches were destroyed. The church was renovated by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century and again by the Crusaders. This together with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are jointly administered by the Franciscans (Latins), the Greek and the Armenian communities. St. Jerome built a monastery here and with the aid of local rabbis translated the Old Testament into Latin from the original Hebrew for the Vulgate, the standard Latin translation of the Bible used by the Roman Catholic Church. Bethlehem University Bethlehem University of the Holy Land is sponsored by the Vatican and conducted by the De La Salle Brothers. A Catholic Christian co-educational institution of higher learning founded in 1973 in the Lasallian tradition, open to students of all faith traditions. Bethlehem University, the first university established in the West Bank, and can trace its roots to 1893 when the De La Salle Christian Brothers opened schools in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Nazareth, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. Total enrolment of Bethlehem University in the current year of is 3,054 including 87 in the Master s Degree programs. Since inception in 1973, more than 11,500 have graduated from Bethlehem University. The Church of the Nativity & Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria The splendid Church of the Nativity was commissioned by Constantine and his mother, St. Helena, in the year 326 A.D. to be built and was dedicated in 339 A.D. Through an elegant, lavishly decorated basilica, the builders sought to immortalize the manger where Jesus was born, and create a place for gathering and 5

6 prayer. The church is built in two separate parts. Above the Nativity Cave is the area of the commemoration and the basilica, and the western section is for worship. The church that stands today was built in the 6th century by Justinian, and remains in its original state. In the 12th century, it was restored by local artists who added a bell tower. Another reconstruction was undertaken during the 17th century. The Door of Humility, a small rectangular entrance to the church, was created in Ottoman times to prevent carts being driven in by looters, and to force even the most important visitor to dismount from his horse as he entered the holy place. In the center, accessed through the Door of Humility, is a spacious sanctuary situated between four rows of columns. Thirty of the nave's 44 columns carry Crusader paintings of saints and the Virgin and Child, although age and lighting conditions make them hard to see. The columns are of pink, polished limestone, most of them reused from the original 4th-century Constantinian basilica. Connected to the Church of Nativity is the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, a modern church administered by the Franciscans. Yasser Arafat when he was alive used to attend Midnight Mass there before he was "detained" by the Israelis in Ramallah. The Midnight Masses are broadcasted worldwide yearly. The Grotto of the Nativity Under the sanctuary is a rectangular cavern, the grotto, which can be reached by two stairways. This cave has been honored as the site of Christ's birth since at least the 2nd century. The exact place of birth is marked on the east side of the cave by a star. The star is made of silver and has 14 rays representing the 14 generations from Abraham to David, the 14 generations from David to the exile to Babylon, and the 14 generations from the exile of Babylon to the birth of Jesus. (Lk 2:1-17) An opening in the center of the star provides a view of the natural rock of the cave. The star's Latin inscription reads, "Here of the Virgin Mary Jesus Christ was born 1717." The original star, first affixed in 1717, disappeared in 1847 (this disappearance was one of the reasons for the Crimean War between Russia and France). The present star was given to the church by the Greeks in Over the star are the remains of a mosaic depicting the birth of Christ that once covered the vaulted ceiling of the cave. There is a small chapel right next to the altar where Jesus was adored by the Three Kings. St. Jerome lived and worked in Bethlehem from 386 A.D. to his death in 420 A.D., and he was buried in a cave beneath the Church of the Nativity. Lk 2:[1] In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. [2] This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria. [3] And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. [6] And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. [7] And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Shepherds Field Approximately 2 km to the east of Bethlehem lies the village of Beit Sahour, where one of the most sacred places to Christians; the Shepherds' Field; is found, identified as the scene where the Angel of the Lord visited the shepherds and informed them of Jesus' birth. Lk 2:[8] And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; [11] for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" [15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." [16] And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [17] And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; [18] and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19] But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:8-12; And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around 6

7 them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. April 11, Thursday - Jerusalem and Bethany Ophel Archeological Park at the Southern Wall To the south and southeast of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, below the south wall of the Temple precinct, is the Ophel Archeological Park, an area in which Israeli archaeologists have made important discoveries since In the eastern part of the Archeological Park can be seen the steps leading up to the now walled-up Huldah Gates, from which there was access, under Herod's Stoa Basilike, to the Temple platform. It was inlayed with dozens of ritual baths for use by pilgrims before climbing up massive steps that led to the Temple after entering the Hulda Gate. It was on those steps where Peter and the Eleven preached after the Pentecost and baptized three thousand on that day right at the ritual baths. Western (Wailing) Wall The holiest Jewish site, the Wailing Wall or Western Wall (Kotel HaMa'aravi), as it is now officially known. The massive stretch of wall, 48m/52yds long by 18m/60ft high, is part of the retaining wall on the southwest side of the Temple platform destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Since 1967 a densely built-up area in front of the wall has been cleared to make a large open space. The section of this area nearest the wall has been railed off and ranks as a synagogue, in which men go to the left and women to the right. It is actually referred to as the Synagogue of the Wall. This is where great religious ceremonies take place and army recruits are sworn in. The Wailing Wall was so called because of the Jews' laments for the destruction of the Temple. It is believed that when Solomon built the Temple, he foreknew it was destined to be destroyed and so he built underneath, in deep and winding tunnels, a place to hide the Ark of Covenant near the western wall. Haram esh-sharif (Temple Mount) Before the Muslims took over, however, Jerusalem was held by Christians. In the fourth century Constantine the Great built churches over the Holy Sepulcher and on the Mount of Olives, and in the sixth century Justinian dedicated a church to the Mother of God, The Church of Our Lady, which had a roof structure of large cedar beams and it stood on the Temple platform. The Muslim armies conquered Jerusalem and in 638. Omar, originally a bitter opponent of Mohammed and later his second successor (Caliph = "Successor"), visited the city. Simply dressed, and accompanied by Archbishop Sophronius, he entered the Temple precinct and said a prayer on Abraham's rock. This to the Muslims was sacred, for the 17th sura of the Koran tells of the Prophet's miraculous night journey "from the holy temple in Mecca to the distant temple" in Jerusalem; from the rock of Moriah, Mohammed ascended to the seven heavens, and from there returned to Mecca. To the Muslims, therefore, the Haram esh-sharif is a place of great significance. It has acquired further associations in the present century, for King Hussein I ( ), a pioneer of the contemporary Arab movement, was buried here and in 1951 his successor Abdullah was murdered here.. The brilliant period of the Omayyad Caliphs, whose capital was in Damascus, saw the erection on the Temple platform of the two buildings which have become the landmarks and emblems of Jerusalem - the Dome of the Rock, built over the rock of Moriah by Abd el-malik in , and the El-Aqsa Mosque, converted by his son El-Walid I ( ) from Justinian's Church of Our Lady. The period of Muslim rule on the Temple Mount was interrupted by the coming of the Crusaders, who held Jerusalem from 1099 to 1187 and plundered the Dome of the Rock and the El-Aqsa Mosque (less generous than Caliph Omar, who had spared the Church of the Holy Sepulcher). The first kings of Jerusalem resided in the El-Aqsa Mosque, but later made it over to the Order of the 7

8 Temple (founded 1149), which took its name from the Templum Salomonis (El-Aqsa) and Templum Domini (Dome of the Rock).. After Jerusalem was recaptured for Islam by Saladin in 1187 there was much further building on the Temple platform, particularly by the Mamelukes. The Dome of the Rock was damaged by grenades during the fighting between Israelis and Arabs in 1948 but was restored, with a new golden dome, by Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia between 1958 and During the Six Day War Israeli troops reached the Wailing Wall on June 7th 1967, since then it has been freely accessible again to Jews. St. Anne s Church and Bethsaida Pool. St. Anne s Church is a beautiful 12th-century Crusader church, erected over the traditional site of the birthplace of Anne (Hannah), the mother of Mary. It is located near the St. Stephen s Gate (Lion s Gate) and poses as an excellent example of Romanesque architecture. It was built between 1131 and 1138 to replace a previous Byzantine church. In 1192, Saladin turned the church into a Muslim theological school, which is commemorated in an inscription above the church's entrance. Eventually abandoned, the church fell into ruin until the Ottomans donated it to France in It was subsequently restored, but most of what remains today is original. The church is right next to the Bethesda Pool, believed to be the site where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:1-15). Here you can see ruins of a Roman temple to the god of healing, Serapis, and remains of a Byzantine church built over the temple. Saint Anne's acoustics, designed for Gregorian chant, are so perfect that the church is virtually a musical instrument to be played by the human voice. Pilgrim groups come to sing in the church throughout the day, and you, too, are welcome to prepare a song of any religion--only religious songs are permitted. The church's acoustics are most amazing when used by a soprano or a tenor solo voice. Bethany Church of St. Lazareth and Tomb of Lazareth Bethany was the home of the two sisters Martha and Mary who "received Jesus into their house", and later Jesus brought their brother Lazarus back from the dead (Jn 11:1-44). When Christ traveled for the last time from Jericho to Jerusalem, where he was to suffer his Passion, he visited the house of Lazarus and his sisters six days before the Passover, and Mary anointed his feet; then on the next day he rode over the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, mounted on a colt from Bethphage. In the fourth century a chapel was built over the supposed site of Lazarus's tomb. This fell into disrepair and was restored in the 12th century by the Crusaders, who built a monastery in commemoration of the house of Martha and Mary. Later the Muslims built a mosque over Lazarus's tomb, and it was only in the 17th century that Christians were again able to visit the site. The Christian sites were restored in the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1953 the Franciscans built a new church dedicated to Lazarus on a site below his tomb which they had acquired in However the entrance to the tomb was blocked by the Muslims but the Franciscans were allowed to cut a new entrance on the upper north side but visitors have to pay the Muslims to get in. Jn 11:[1] Now a certain man was ill, Laz'arus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Laz'arus was ill. [3] So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." [4] But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." [5] Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Laz'arus. [6] So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. [7] Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." [8] The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" [9] Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. [10] But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." [11] Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." [12] The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." [13] Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. [14] Then Jesus told them plainly, "Laz'arus is dead; [15] and for your sake I am glad that I 8

9 was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." [16] Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." [17] Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the tomb four days. [18] Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, [19] and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. [20] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. [21] Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." [23] Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." [25] Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, [26] and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" [27] She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." [28] When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." [29] And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. [30] Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. [31] When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. [32] Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." [33] When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; [34] and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." [35] Jesus wept. [36] So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" [37] But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" [38] Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. [39] Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." [40] Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" [41] So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [42] I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." [43] When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Laz'arus, come out." [44] The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Shrine of the Book & Second Temple Jerusalem Model To the right of the entrance of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem is the Shrine of the Book, with a dome of light-colored concrete modeled on the lids of the pottery jars containing the "Dead Sea scrolls". The scrolls were found from 1947 onwards in caves round the monastery of the Essenes at Qumran and thanks to the efforts of the archaeologist Yigael Yadin were acquired for Israel; there are also some scrolls in the Archeological Museum of Amman in Jordan. The scrolls are the earliest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible in the Hebrew language apart from two silver tablets engraved with a few words from the book of Numbers. In the center of the rotunda are displayed scrolls containing extensive passages from the book of Isaiah (copies); written about 100 B.C., they show only slight variations from later manuscripts - evidence of the accuracy of the transmission of the Biblical text. Other texts are displayed round the walls of the rotunda. In cases on the lower floor are finds from Masada, material relating to the unsuccessful resistance by Jewish Zealots to the Roman besiegers in 73 A.D. found in excavations in 1964 and 1965 and the Bar Kochba letters found in the valley of the Nahal Hever in 1960 and There is a 1:50 scale model of the old city of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period which shows the grandeur of the Temple April 12, Friday Old Jerusalem The Convent of the Sisters of Zion The Convent of the Soeurs de Sion and the Chapel of Ecce Homo rise near the site of the Antonia Fortress. The Church of the Sisters of Zion was built in the second half of the 19th century on a site that has yelded the remains of ancient ruins, such as the Roman arch, fortifications and a pavement 9

10 which some had identified with that of the Antonia Fortress as well as the vestiges of Roman-age street paving, the so-called Lithostratos. Inside the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, a flight of stairs leads down to the site of the Lithostratos which, in the Gospels, is described as being opposite the Praetorium. This is substantiated by the fact that in addition to the little channels that served to drain off rain-water and carry it to the cistern below (the Struthion pool which supplied water to the troops garrisoned in the Antonia Fortress), the floor is marked for some of the games the Roman soldiers used to play. One of these can be identified by the letter "B", which stands for the Greek word Basileus (King), or "the game of the King". Via Dolorosa with the Franciscans Along St. Mary's Gate Street in Jerusalem, begins the Via Dolorosa, the first section of which runs along the east-west longitudinal axis of the Antonia Fortress. This "Way of Sorrow" was the route followed by Christ after his condemnation on his way to the place of execution on Golgotha. Every Friday at 3 pm a procession led by Italian Franciscans makes its way along the Via Dolorosa, the course of which is marked by the fourteen Stations of the Cross, some of them based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion and some on tradition. Stations I-IX are on the Via Dolorosa, Stations X-XIV in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which is built over Golgotha and Christ's Tomb. The Stations on the Via Dolorosa are not to be regarded as historical sites but as stages in the procession. The actual route was more like 11.4 km as the Romans wanted to show the people the extent of punishment. The detritus of many centuries has raised the ground level much above its level in the time of Christ, and later building has altered the line of the streets in detail. The course of the Via Dolorosa has thus frequently changed down the centuries, and the number of Stations has increased from the original seven to the present fourteen. The present route dates mainly from the 18th century; Stations I, IV, V and VIII were established only in the 19th century. The First Station The Praetorium At the site where the inner court (the Praetorium - part of the Antonia Fortress) stood in Roman times, there stands a Turkish building which is the Omariyya School today. The structure is located north of and adjacent to the Temple Mount. It is identified with the Antonia Fortress (of Second Temple days) where reserve Roman soldiers were stationed, mainly on holidays, to stifle potential rebellious activity that might occur due to the convergence of so many pilgrims visiting the city. This explains the presence of the Roman consul Pontius Pilate in the Praetorium of the fortress during the Passover festival (when Jesus was arrested). For centuries, Franciscan monks in Jerusalem have held processions following the 14 Stations every Friday at 3:00 p.m., starting at the Omariyya School's courtyard. The Second Station Church of the Flagellation and the Chapel of Scourging The Church of the Flagellation is where, according to tradition, Roman soldiers flogged Jesus and placed a crown of thorns on his head following the pronouncement of his sentence. The architect, Barluzzi, rebuilt this church in medieval style over ancient ruins in The most impressive part of the church are three stained glass windows which depict the victory cry of Barabbas, the whipping of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns amidst the soldiers, and Pilate washing his hands of sin. Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross. To the left of the Church of the Flagellation is the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross. It was built on the remains of a Byzantine church and was restored to its original splendor by the Franciscans at the beginning of the 20th century. Outside the church are ancient pavement stones. Third Station It is at this Station that Jesus fell for the first time under the heavy burden of the cross. The site was purchased during the 15th century by the Armenian Catholic Church, which built a small chapel commemorating the Fall of Jesus. In , the chapel was renovated thanks to donations from the Polish army. Fourth Station Our Lady of the Spasm. This Armenian Chapel of Mary, Our Lady of the Spasm, was built in 1881 on Byzantine ruins. A room near the entrance marks the Fourth Station. Within its crypt is part of an ancient mosaic floor depicting a pair of sandals. This symbolizes the place where Mary was standing (Stabat Mater Dolorosa) when Jesus passed near her carrying his cross. 10

11 Fifth Station Chapel of Simon of Cyrene. The Franciscan Chapel of Simon of Cyrene was built in According to tradition, this is the place where Simon of Cyrene was compelled by Roman soldiers to assist Jesus in carrying the cross. Simon was a pilgrim from North Africa who had come to Jerusalem for Passover. On the right side of the entrance to the chapel is a rock with an indentation, which many believe was made when Jesus leaned on it with his hand. Sixth Station. According to tradition, Veronica s house stands beside the Via Dolorosa and it was from this house that she emerged to welcome Jesus and wipe the sweat off his brow. In doing so, his image was imprinted on her damp handkerchief. Since then this cloth has been consecrated, and from the 8th century has been kept at St. Peter s in Rome. On the site where Veronica s house stood is the Greek Catholic St. Veronica Church, part of which belongs to the order of 'The Little Sisters of Jesus'. It was built on the ruins of a 6th century monastery that was purchased by Greek Catholics in 1883, and then renovated. In 1953, the church was renovated again by the architect Antonio Barluzzi. Seventh Station Jesus Falls for the Second Time. The Seventh Station marks the place where Jesus passed through the Gate of Judgment, along the streets of Jerusalem on his way to Golgotha. Inside the lower chapel is a pillar, part of the late Roman Cardo colonnade. Eighth Station Jesus Speaks to the Daughters of Jerusalem. This station, outside the city limits of the Second Temple, was in an open field where Jesus met the daughters of Jerusalem who were crying over his bitter fate. His answer to them was Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children. (Later on, Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Second Temple. This Station is marked by a stone in a wall inscribed with a cross and the Latin words, Jesus Christ is Triumphant. Ninth Station Jesus Falls for the Third Time. Situated at the entrance to the Coptic Church, here the exhausted Jesus faltered again under the burden of the cross. Church of the Holy Sepulchre (The Church of the Holy Resurrection) Visible from afar, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with its two silver domes stands in the heart of the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. This area contains the last five Stations of the Via Dolorosa. In Jesus' times, there was a rocky hill by the name of Golgotha, so called because it looked like a skull. In 326 AD the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine, commissioned to build a church above the Sepulchre. In the past, this church was much larger than it is today. The original Byzantine church was destroyed by the Persians in 614 A.D. Rebuilt shortly thereafter, the Egyptian caliph al-hakim destroyed the church in 1009 and had the tomb hacked down to bedrock. The Crusaders rebuilt the church and much of what is standing today is from that time period. In the front of the church, there is a flagstone-paved courtyard. To the right of the courtyard stands St. Abraham s Monastery with its large pools of water that served as reservoirs for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during the Byzantine period. The facade of the church features impressive remains of Crusader architecture, including a two-story double gate from the 12th century. Each story has a double-arched opening with many embellishments and architectural elements characteristic of the period. There are two entrances; one has been sealed since 1187, and the other is open to visitors. The ladder in the upper right window has been there since at least 1860, a testimony to rivalries between the church's factions. The primary custodians are the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic churches. In the 19 th century, the Coptic Orthodox, the Ethiopian Orthodox and the Syriac Orthodox acquired lesser responsibilities, which include shrines and other structures within and around the building. To prevent disputes among the sects, the door key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been since 1192 been left to two Muslim families. There is a bench on the left side of the entrance for the Muslim doorkeeper. The doors are open at 4:00 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. Closings are at 11:30 a.m. and 15 minutes after sunset. Opening and closing are both from outside locking in three primary sextons. Mt 27: [57] When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe'a, named Joseph, who also 11

12 was a disciple of Jesus. [58] He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. [59] And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, [60] and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. [61] Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre. Mt 28: [1] Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. [2] And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. [4] And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. [5] But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you." [8] So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. [9] And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. [10] Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.". Tenth Station Jesus Clothes are Taken Away. This Station, inside the Chapel of Franks, is accessible only from the front of the church on the right hand side up a flight of stairs. It was a ceremonial entrance to Calvary during the Crusader period until 1187 after the fall of Jerusalem when it was closed off by a wall between it and the main building. This is where Jesus was brought to have his clothes removed. Eleventh Station Nailing Jesus to the Cross. This Station is under the auspices of the Latin Church. A mosaic at this Station depicts a Roman soldier nailing Jesus to the cross. On the ceiling is a 12th century mosaic of Jesus. There are also other more recent mosaics.. Twelfth Station Place of Crucifixion. The Twelfth Station is a Greek Orthodox chapel whose altar stands upon Golgotha rock. At the center is the silver plate where Jesus cross stood. On either side are holes for the crosses of the two thieves, one good and one bad, who were crucified with Jesus.. Thirteenth Station The Agonizing Mary, Bringing Jesus Down from the Cross. In this place, Mary took the body of Jesus after he was lowered from the cross. The altar is dedicated to Mary, and is called Our Lady of Sorrows. The very precious statue of Mary was stolen in 1968 but was found and returned to the church, which is under the auspices of the Franciscans.. Fourteenth Station The Tomb is surrounded by a structure built by the Greeks in 1809 AD known as the edicule. Before entering the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre with the tomb of Jesus, one must pass through the Chapel of the Angel where in the middle is a stone altar, which is widely believed to be part of the stone that covered the Tomb and rolled away by the angels. Inside the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, there is a marble slab on which Jesus was said to have been laid and from which he rose from the dead.. Stone of Unction. On the floor, at the entrance of the church, is the Anointment stone where Jesus body was laid after being taken down from the cross. Here his body was prepared for burial with myrrh and aloes and bound with burial cloths. Surrounding the slate are six large candlesticks; two Greek, two Catholic, and two Armenian.. Chapel of Adam. On entering the right side of the main floor, there is a chapel, the Chapel of Adam, named after the first man, showing a crack in the rock above which stood the crucifix of Jesus. According to tradition, the cross was placed on top of the skull of the first man, and when a drop of Jesus blood fell on the skull, it cleansed all humanity.. Chapel of St. Helena. Walking past the Chapel of Adam and Greek Chapel of Derision (or Crowning of Thorns), you will find 29 steps going down into the Chapel of St. Helena. On the stairway walls, note the many crosses that were carved by the medieval pilgrims. A seat was once at the corner was said to have been occupied by Helena as she searched for the True Cross. From that corner and descending 13 more steps, you will find the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross. The left side is owned by the 12

13 Catholics with an altar featuring a life-size statue of St. Helena holding a cross. On the other corner of Chapel of St. Helena is the Chapel of St. Vartan, an Armenian chapel, discovered in 1970 with a drawing of a merchant ship DOMINE IVIMVS which means Lord we shall go. It is normally locked and not open to the public. It is now covered up.. Prison of Christ. After passing the Armenian Chapel of Dividing of the Robes and the Greek Chapel of St. Longinus (the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus side and then converted), you will find in the corner behind the columns and piers, the Prison of Christ. According to 12 th century tradition, Jesus and the two thieves were housed before the crucifixion.. Greek Orthodox Catholicon. On the left hand side and in the middle of the Church of Holy Sepulchre is the Greek Orthodox Catholicon or the Greek Orthodox Cathedral enclosed by a wall on all sides. It has a large iconostasis flanked by the thrones of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Antioch. Above is a colorful cupola which dates from after the 1927 earthquake, decorated with an image of Christ and other icons. Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene Proceeding straight ahead is a large square Roman Catholic chapel, the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, where Jesus appeared to St. Mary Magdalene after his resurrection. To the right is a private chapel for the Franciscan monks. It is interesting to note there is a section of a pillar supposed to be from the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu to which Jesus was tied. Syrian and Coptic chapels and Armenian shrine. Walking further around the Rotunda, you will find a Coptic chapel which is right behind the edicule. On the opposite side against the wall, you will find a Syrian chapel with tomb of Joseph Arimathea. It is now abandoned because of dispute between Greek Orthodox and Syrian. When you are about to reach the Stone of Unction again, you will find an Armenian Shrine on your right. April 13, Saturday Mount of Olives ad Mount Zion Sanctuary of Bethphage On Jesus last journey to Jerusalem, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah s prophecy. As he neared a village, which many scholars believe was Bethphage ("house of the early figs"), he asked two disciples to go into the village and to bring to him the colt that he desired to enter the city on. Jesus mounted on the colt and rode into Jerusalem through the Golden Gate. The Golden Gate is located on the eastern side of Jerusalem's Wall. The Gate's structure is from the seventh century, which means it predates the Turkish wall which we know today. Remains of an even older gate dating to the time of the Second Temple were found. The gate is divided into two gates, both blocked today with bricks. The gate to the north is called the 'Gate of Grace' and the gate to the south is called the 'Gate of Mercy'. According to Jewish tradition, the Shekhinah (Divine Presence) used to appear through this gate, and will appear again when the Messiah comes (Ezekiel 44:1 3) albeit a newer replacement gate. So the Jews used to pray for mercy at the former gate at this location. Hence the name Sha'ar Harachamim, the Gate of Mercy. The Christian tradition marks the Golden Gate as the gate through which Christ entered Jerusalem. That tradition also tells that this gate is where the byzantine emperor Heracles entered Jerusalem after freeing it from the Persians during the 7th century (a short while before the city was taken by Muslims). In Arabic, it is known as the Gate of Eternal Life. The emperor Suleiman, who heard the Jewish tradition, decided to prevent the arrival of the Messiah by blocking the gate with bricks, and by building a Muslim cemetery in front of the gate (the Messiahs is a Cohen, so he can not enter a cemetery...). In ancient times, the gate was known as the Beautiful Gate. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem through the Golden Gate, so overjoyed was the populace that they stripped branches off of palm trees and spread the such palm branches and their cloaks on the road. All the while they shouted prayers of thanksgiving otherwise sung at the Passover Seder. "Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mk 11:1-10) To this day, every year on Palm Sunday, branch-carrying pilgrims begin a journey to Jerusalem at Bethphage that recalls 13

14 the first procession.. A 19 th century church built at Bethphage incorporates features of an earlier Crusader sanctuary, including a rock sometimes called the "Stele of Bethphage," after the Crusader tradition that Jesus mounted his colt and rode to Jerusalem from the mounting stone. Mk 11:[1] And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Beth'phage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, [2] and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it. [3] If any one says to you, `Why are you doing this?' say, `The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'" [4] And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street; and they untied it. [5] And those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" [6] And they told them what Jesus had said; and they let them go. [7] And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it. [8] And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. [9] And those who went before and those who followed cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! [10] Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!" Dome of Ascension In the Arab village of Et-Tur, within the precincts of a mosque, is the Chapel of the Ascension. The village lies on the road from Jerusalem to Bethany, from which, according to Luke 24:50-51, Christ was carried up into heaven. In the 12th century the Crusaders built a circular church here with it s ceiling open to the sky reflecting in its architecture the idea of the Ascension. In the middle is an octagonal edicule containing a stone with the right foot print of Jesus. The Chapel of the Ascension was taken by Saladin in 1187 and given to his followers. In 1200 they added a roof to the ediclue during renovation. The Muslims also believed that Jesus had ascended into heaven though not mentioned in the Koran in that respect. Nevertheless, in the Middle Ages, they took the section with Jesus left foot imprint to the El-Aqsa Mosque. Lk 24:[50] Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. [51] While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. Church of the Pater Noster This church is built over a cave in which Jesus was said to have taught the disciples the prayer that begins "Our Father who art in heaven" (Latin: "Paternoster qui est in coelis"). The first church on the site built by Constantine's mother, Queen Helena, was destroyed in the Persian invasion of 614 and a replacement built by the crusaders, but the current edifice dates back only to the 19th century. The walls of the cloister and church are covered in versions of the prayer in just about 62 major known language, following a similar crusader practice attested to by contemporaneous pilgrimage accounts. Lk 11:[1] He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." [2] And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. [3] Give us each day our daily bread; [4] and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation." Church of Dominus Flevit The Church of Dominus Flevit ("The Lord wept") is tear-shaped and built in 1955 on the foundations of a church of the fifth century (a mosaic from which can be seen to the left of the entrance) which had been built on top of a rock on which the pilgrims believed to be the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. In a large window above the altar is the outline of a chalice and it looks right at the 14