Terra Santa II

#2: Christian Sites

Judaism and Christianity are said to be faiths that occurred definitively within history, are falsifiable, and stand up to scientific, historical, and logical inquiry. What does this mean for me here and now? There should be lots of archaeological sites to see! Indeed, they're everywhere here. This is exactly what draws me toward the Abrahamic faiths.

The Nativity Church in Bethlehem
Odd as it sounds, the first thing I really liked about this church was the door. Note an outline of a large outer door, then remains of an indented, smaller door; then finally a tiny opening at the bottom. These are 3 different doors built at different times, obviously the smaller one the last remaining one. Today's small opening is only big enough for 1 person to squeeze through, and requires you to duck just to get through. What I liked about this is that when you enter the church, you're facing the altar and are already bowing before it (whether you like it or not). This church has been venerated since the 300s as the birthplace of Jesus. It's interesting that for what should be one of the most celebrated sites in Christendom, it's relatively unheard of.

A primary reason it's less-visited today is because Bethlehem is in Palestinian territory. Coming from Bethlehem back into Israeli territory was sketchy, at best.. We were questioned a bit, and very hesitantly let back in..

Capernaum

On the Sea of Galilee, there were several important sites of Christendom here: Peter's house (where Jesus lived for some time), remains of a synagogue where Jesus was said to have taught, and of course the Sea of Galilee where Jesus was said to have walked on water. Ruins are everywhere, I'm sure the majority of which has yet to have been touched, but the area itself is quite beautiful.

The Jordan
The river was surprisingly tropical and lush. Stew baptised me here, and as he began, a little fish swam across my foot. Then another. Then they both nibbled gently on my feet. Then a few more. Then it was like an full front-line attack of foot massaging fish. Apparently they eat dead skin from people's feet; Stew noted that people with skin diseases come bathe here because of these fish - they literally take care of you. I thought this was quite fitting during a baptism..

Mount of Olives
So many sites important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims are on the "mount" (more of a large hill). Solomon's son Absalom's Tomb is here, Jews believe the Messiah (and/or possibly God) will stand on this mount in apocolyptic times and split it into two halves. The gospels record Jesus weeping here for Jerusalem as he prophesied it's destruction, which would occur about 40 years later. Jesus' famous Olivet Discourse was given here; the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed for deliverance from crucifixion and his subsequent arrest is here. Interestingly, as the Jews relate this mount to end-times and messianic times, Christians also believe this is the mount that Jesus will return. Mary's tomb is here, and Oscar Schindler is buried here.

Old Town

Christian sites we saw in the Old Town of Jerusalem included the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of Jesus' crucifixion - the end of the Via Dolorosa (the path Jesus took through the city leading to Golgotha), and the many stations leading along that path.

The amount of information really is overwhelming, and we saw plenty more than I posted, or even can remember.. Below are yet many more pictures..