The Bible Brought to Life - Study Abroad 2013: Jerusalem - Herodian

We began our last day in Israel atop the Mount of Olives over looking all of Jerusalem. The view was spectacular. We could see the temple mount, all of the ancient city, and even parts of the modern city.

We walked down the side of the Mount of Olives along the Palm Sunday Route and stopped at the church known as the Dominus Flevit which was built in honor of the place where Jesus wept. While at the church, a service was going on so we each had a very cultural experience in that aspect.

Once we returned to the Palm Sunday Route, we made our final pit stop at the Garden of Gethsemane. It was breathtaking. The olive trees in the garden we over a thousand years old and the garden was very well cared for. Beside the garden, a church was built with no specific denomination in mind but instead as a church for everyone. It is known as the Church of All Nations. Each dome in the roof was dedicated to a different country that sent money to contribute to the building of the church. It was placed there so anyone, no matter where they were from, could come and worship at this sacred garden. The church was also built on top of the rock that they believe Jesus prayed on before they arrested him. It was a very emotional experience.

The American dome inside the Church of All Nations

Rock where Jesus prayed

Garden of Gethsemane

'Peace'

Garden of Gethsemane

After the Garden of Gethsemane, we got back on the bus and traveled to Palestine. We went to Herodian. This was the place where King Herod built his palace and also where he was buried. It was a very large hill that was tow-thirds man made when Herod decided that it was not large enough. From this large man-made hill, you can see Israel, most of Palestine, and into the country Jordan. The Palace was built down inside the hill. It was massive, although there is not much left of it now. King Herod's tomb was just recently discovered there. It was found with its entrance on the outside of the hill facing Jordan. We were not allowed to go near the tomb because it was still being excavated but it was still cool to have been there.

Inside the palace

View from Herodian

Tomb of King Herod

Our last stop of the day was to the historical city of Bethlehem. We went to the Church of the Nativity which was built over the site where Jesus was born. We entered the church through a tiny door they. It was so small so that livestock and other animals would not come into the church. This is the oldest church in all of Israel because when the Persians came into Israel and destroyed all of the Christian churches, they thought that the wise men in the mosaic on the floor look Persian so this church was left untouched. The place of the manger was underneath the church in a very constricted room and it seemed like everyone in Israel wanted to see this archaeological site. It was like Black Friday in that church. After a lot of waiting in close corners with people I had never met, we were able to squeeze into to see the place where Jesus was born and the place where the manger was. It was very ornate and overdone but still very interesting.