This morning was a very early start - up at 4am for a 5am start in ...
Way of the Cross on the ...
Walking through the darkened narrow streets, deserted except for ourselves, praying and singing at each Station.
What emotions must Jesus,
his mother and friends have felt as he walked through the narrow streets, bloodied and struggling under the weight of the cross, on his way to Calvary.
We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee.
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.
Ethiopian Orthodox Church - we took a short cut through the narrow church where Mass was taking place, down the steps into the lower level of the courtyard at the front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 6am
The Stone of Unction (Anointing) the 13th Station - the place where Joseph of Arimathea is said by some to have prepared Jesus' body for burial. However, the tradition of the stone slab has only existed since Crusader times and the current slab has only been in place since the 1810 reconstruction. In the early part of the fourth century, Constantine instructed his mother, St Helena, to construct a church on every holy place in this land - she was certainly very busy doing this!
I ask myself, does knowing this make any difference?
I ask myself, does knowing this make any difference?
and the painting behind
A chapel belonging to the Greek Orthodox church marks the site of the death of Jesus. The altar has a silver disk beneath it marking the place in the rock where the Cross stood. On the right side, the rock contains a fissure believed to have been created by an earthquake at the time of the death of Jesus.
"Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. the earth shook, the rocks split apart, the graves broke open..." Matthew 27: 51-52
The Chapel of Golgotha
The rock of Golgotha from below
The Catholic chapel, the Chapel of the Nailing, where we celebrated a simple but beautiful Mass so close to this holiest of places.
and afterwards...
Exploring the Jewish quarter
Exploring the Jewish quarter
Shops in the narrow streets before opening hours
The Golden Menorah waiting for the rebuilding of the Temple
Jews have long revered Shabbat, the Sabbath, as a time of rest, of peace, and of contentment. From sundown on Friday night until sundown on Saturday night, observant Jews set aside time to pray and study -- a day to refrain from work and everyday cares.
The Dome of the Rock, with the golden dome in the background, is set on the actual bedrock of the highest point of the Temple Mount.
This was the site of King Solomon's Temple and Herod's Temple which is sacred to the Jews. Muslims believe this is the same rock where Muhammad ascended into heaven. It is a Muslim shrine that is the oldest Islamic monument (688-691AD) still standing. The dome is aluminium covered with gold leaf.
This was the site of King Solomon's Temple and Herod's Temple which is sacred to the Jews. Muslims believe this is the same rock where Muhammad ascended into heaven. It is a Muslim shrine that is the oldest Islamic monument (688-691AD) still standing. The dome is aluminium covered with gold leaf.
The smells, sights and sounds of the city were fantastic. It is fascinating to see the women sitting on metal drums amongst boxes and baskets of fruit and vegetables, the different meats hanging in shop windows and young boys carrying boxes or pushing carts up and down the narrow streets.
It's amazing to see how the different quarters within the city blend into each other - Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. It is easy to get lost in the Old City - even with a map!
A common sight- children working for a living
Amazing lolly shops !
Colourful vegetables - yellow cauliflower!
Making my way towards the city wall and the Damascus gate
Outside the Old City
I returned to the Olive Tree Hotel for a simple dinner before catching a few hours sleep. Our flight to Tel Aviv was expected to depart at 6.25am which meant we had to leave the hotel at 3am.
At 10.30pm, after an hour and a half sleep, the phone rang. Our tour escort, Randa, said we had to leave at 11.30pm due to a strike at the airport and therefore the plane was leaving early.
Frantically we prepared for the early departure and we were on our way to Tel Aviv airport at 11.30pm - bound for Rome!
I bid farewell to this most sacred land. The land where Peter met a man who changed the path of his life.
During my life I have always had a strong connection to the Church - now I have a much stronger connection to Christ- the centre of our faith!
I hope to return before too long - next time with my husband!
No comments:
Post a Comment