Jerusalem, Israel The chronologically last of the major holy sites associated with the life of Christ is the Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem’s Old City. It bears the distinction of being the only major shrine related to the life of Christ that is not currently under Christian jurisdiction. It has technically been in use as a mosque for … [Read more...]
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
Jerusalem, Israel Jerusalem was the heart of Judaism for more than a thousand years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the arrival of Christianity. It was perhaps inevitable that when he challenged the authority of the Jewish priests and the Roman governor, the central battleground would be in Jerusalem. It was here that Jesus spoke against the commercialization of … [Read more...]
CHURCH OF THE BEATITUDES
Tabgha, Israel The city of Tabgha stands near the site of ancient Capernaum, the northern gateway to the Sea of Galilee and one of the principal locations of the ministry of Jesus. Some of the most memorable chapters and miracles of the New Testament took place in the immediate vicinity of Tabgha-Capernaum. The most famous and important site in Galilee is the Church of the … [Read more...]
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
Bethlehem, Palestine The Church of the Nativity stands on the traditional site of the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and is the second holiest site in Christendom after the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The current structure dates in part to the 6th century AD and is one of the oldest Christian churches still in use in the Holy Land. The Church of the Nativity is part of a … [Read more...]
BASILICA OF THE ANNUNCIATION
Nazareth, Israel When it comes to Christian pilgrimage sites, there is no better place to begin then at the beginning, in Nazareth, where Mary the mother of Jesus was first visited by the angel Gabriel. While Bethlehem and Jerusalem boast the great shrines of Jesus’ birth and death, it is Nazareth where Jesus spent most of his life in between, and the surrounding region of … [Read more...]
