Larnaka, Cyprus As Christianity began to spread across the Mediterranean world in the 1st century, the island of Cyprus became a natural stepping stone for early Christian missionary efforts. It was the first place Paul visited outside of the Levant, and one of the first places outside of Judea or Syria to receive the Gospel. Its reputation as an important Christian … [Read more...]
UMAYYAD MOSQUE
Damascus, Syria Long before Damascus rose to prominence as the Umayyad dynasty’s capital of the Islamic Caliphate, it was a major early center of the Christian faith. According to the New Testament, Christianity was introduced to Damascus by the disciple Ananias within a year or two after the Ascension, making Damascus one of the first major cities outside of Judea to be … [Read more...]
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL
Cologne, Germany Cologne Cathedral was one of the architectural wonders of the Middle Ages. From the time of its completion it was the largest church, and building, in the world, until it was surpassed by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. When it was finally completed in the 19th century, more than six-hundred years after construction began, it was also the tallest man-made … [Read more...]
CHAPEL OF THE ASCENSION
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...]
