The Triumphal Entry
Directly across the street from the Garden of Gethsemane was Mary's tomb. We didn't go in because George said there was nothing to see in there, and that it was pretty dark and dank.
We continued down the mountain then stopped in the Kidron Valley to talk about the different paths historically taken for the parade of Triumphal Entry. Up to this point we had pretty much stuck to the path that was always taken. The point where we stopped was the point where different paths were taken. At one point in history the path went North around the entire city before heading West into it. Now (and most likely the original path) the path is pretty much South-East.
After this aside we walked up through the Lion's Gate, where we started walking the Stations of the Cross. (We walked through the first nine, then stopped to eat hummus at this really great place. It was so good! Honestly, this was probably the best hummus I have ever eaten.) As we walked the stations we hurried passed a Catholic group who had been stopping and reading scriptures and praying at every station. At one of the stations George mentioned Veronica. Aunt was unfamiliar with who Veronica was, so it was kind of fun to say, "Oh, that's in the Apocrypha." Especially since she is such an amazing scholar of so many subjects, only one of which is the Bible.
From there we continued walking up hill (I was honestly shocked to discover how hilly Israel is. Uncle commented a couple of times on the Lord's promise to give the Jews a land of hills and valleys. He wasn't kidding, either.) and into an Ethiopian/Coptic church. The church was originally Coptic, but was given to the Ethiopians at some point in history. George stopped us inside the church to point out a Coptic cross. As we were talking about it the Ethiopian priest that was standing near by came and interrupted him and said, No, that's an Ethiopian cross. Hmmm..... It was quite interesting to see how determined he was to make sure that we knew that the church was, and always had been Ethiopian.
We walked out of the church and into the Church of Holy Sepulcher for last 5 stations of the cross. I asked George when the last 3 were added. He said that they were added by the crusaders. Okaaay. It was interesting to me that he wasn't even going to mention that. Oh well. Inside this church there were a bunch of different religions who laid claim to parts of it. George estimates there are about 15 different sects inside. We started at the location where Christ was supposedly crucified, then down to the unction (?) stone where they would have laid out and dressed Christ's body for burial. Then we went down to a spot under the church where George pointed out that the priests had been excavating and found more evidence that seems to support that this point is the spot where Christ was crucified and buried.
After we came up we went into the Holy Sepulcher. It was pretty dark and ostentatious. Interestingly, these spots were all disconnected originally until the crusaders decided to join them together. Also, Catholics (I think, I'm not really sure which religion) that this spot is the center of the earth. Interesting and completely unsupported. But, we're all allowed to believe as we think is Truth. I took this picture as I stood in line waiting to go into the Holy Sepulcher. These objects hold incense which is constantly burning. The Sepulcher is in the center of the circle created by the dome.
This is the out side of the Holy Sepulcher. Inside is really a tight squeeze. Once again, I didn't really feel the Spirit all that much. It might have had something to do with the feeling created by all of these churches. Or, it may have been something else entirely.
We continued down the mountain then stopped in the Kidron Valley to talk about the different paths historically taken for the parade of Triumphal Entry. Up to this point we had pretty much stuck to the path that was always taken. The point where we stopped was the point where different paths were taken. At one point in history the path went North around the entire city before heading West into it. Now (and most likely the original path) the path is pretty much South-East.
After this aside we walked up through the Lion's Gate, where we started walking the Stations of the Cross. (We walked through the first nine, then stopped to eat hummus at this really great place. It was so good! Honestly, this was probably the best hummus I have ever eaten.) As we walked the stations we hurried passed a Catholic group who had been stopping and reading scriptures and praying at every station. At one of the stations George mentioned Veronica. Aunt was unfamiliar with who Veronica was, so it was kind of fun to say, "Oh, that's in the Apocrypha." Especially since she is such an amazing scholar of so many subjects, only one of which is the Bible.
From there we continued walking up hill (I was honestly shocked to discover how hilly Israel is. Uncle commented a couple of times on the Lord's promise to give the Jews a land of hills and valleys. He wasn't kidding, either.) and into an Ethiopian/Coptic church. The church was originally Coptic, but was given to the Ethiopians at some point in history. George stopped us inside the church to point out a Coptic cross. As we were talking about it the Ethiopian priest that was standing near by came and interrupted him and said, No, that's an Ethiopian cross. Hmmm..... It was quite interesting to see how determined he was to make sure that we knew that the church was, and always had been Ethiopian.
We walked out of the church and into the Church of Holy Sepulcher for last 5 stations of the cross. I asked George when the last 3 were added. He said that they were added by the crusaders. Okaaay. It was interesting to me that he wasn't even going to mention that. Oh well. Inside this church there were a bunch of different religions who laid claim to parts of it. George estimates there are about 15 different sects inside. We started at the location where Christ was supposedly crucified, then down to the unction (?) stone where they would have laid out and dressed Christ's body for burial. Then we went down to a spot under the church where George pointed out that the priests had been excavating and found more evidence that seems to support that this point is the spot where Christ was crucified and buried. 
After we came up we went into the Holy Sepulcher. It was pretty dark and ostentatious. Interestingly, these spots were all disconnected originally until the crusaders decided to join them together. Also, Catholics (I think, I'm not really sure which religion) that this spot is the center of the earth. Interesting and completely unsupported. But, we're all allowed to believe as we think is Truth. I took this picture as I stood in line waiting to go into the Holy Sepulcher. These objects hold incense which is constantly burning. The Sepulcher is in the center of the circle created by the dome.
This is the out side of the Holy Sepulcher. Inside is really a tight squeeze. Once again, I didn't really feel the Spirit all that much. It might have had something to do with the feeling created by all of these churches. Or, it may have been something else entirely.
posted by granola girl at 9:17 PM
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