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Overlooking
the fabulous "Walled City" of Jerusalem, as viewed from the
grounds of the King David Hotel. We arrived at the dining room right at
sundown on Friday and were not able to get a hot meal. Preparing a hot
meal is considered "work" under the Jewish Law and is not allowed.
Cold food is O.K. Inside the wall at the left is the Christian section.
At the far right and outside the wall is Mt. Zion.
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View
from the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem. Looking west toward the "Walled
City" with the gleaming "Onion Domes" of the Russian Orthodox
Church. We took a local bus to a small community at the top of the mount
and walked down the hillside, following in Jesus footsteps. There are
now seven or eight major churches along this route, passed the Garden
of Gethsemane. The churches are independent of one another and have their
own staff and opening times for Pilgrims to visit. Tour busses with their
guides dominate the sites and speak in many languages. We found this to
be quite an emotional experience. We had a picnic lunch on the grounds
of a tourist hotel near the top. Magnificent views are everywhere.
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This
is the church where Jesus was condemned to death by Ponteous Pilate. It
is the first stop of 14 on "The Way of the Cross", the route
Jesus was forced to take while struggling to carry his wooden cross of
Crucifixion & wearing a "Crown of Thorns". Each Point has
a marker and explanation of the event. Every Friday afternoon the priests
from this church lead a re-enactment with stops at each Point. This is
inside the "Walled City" in the Christian Section.
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On Mount
Zion, the Cenacle or Upper Room, built on the sight of Jesus' Last Supper
with his disciples.
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The walls
of this lovely chapel are inscribed with the words of the Lord's Prayer
in over 180 different languages. It has been built over the hallowed STONE
GROTTO where Jesus often taught his disciples. We were overwhelmed to
be in such a historic place, two thousand years later, and could 'feel'
the power here.
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| The
Grotto of Gethsemane. May 2000. |
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