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A Christian Journey to Jerusalem

By Tomer Harel

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 08Nov2009 Word count: 820 Viewed: 467 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

To most Christians, visiting the Holy Land is a dream come true. After all, this is the birthplace of their faith, a holy country and center of their religious pilgrimage. The culture, history, and beauty of this land make it a vacation spot where Christians can go to renew their faith, learn more about biblical history and enjoy a journey into the land of milk and honey.

Jerusalem holds special significance for Christians who come from all over the world. Although tourists of many faiths visit Jerusalem annually, the majority of the vacationers are Christian people, desiring to learn more about their faith and their God. Consequently, many of the attractions, souvenirs, and tours are specifically designed for those who are of the Christian faith.

One of the first places that Christians enjoy visiting is the Old City of Jerusalem and its four quarters, which are surrounded by eight gates. The four quarters consist of the Christian Quarter, the Arab Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. Each quarter has different attractions and sites to visit that will prove interesting. Bear in mind that the environment of each quarter is different and it is best to get information about each before visiting so you will know what to expect and where to go.

The Western or Wailing Wall is the last remnant of the Jewish temples and was built more than 2,000 years ago. This wall provides the boundary between the Temple Mount of the Muslim Quarter and the Jewish Quarter. Many Christian tourists visit here, due to the historical and holy significance, where prayers have been placed into the cracks of the wall. Many will stop here to pray, leave a request in the wall, and spend time meditating on God.

If you are interested in history and archeology, you will want to be a part of the Western Wall Tunnel Tour, which goes through the underground parts of the Western Wall. This tour shows the progression of the Temple Mount from the first temple period to today. The Temple Institute is another amazing place to visit where most of the ritual tools used in the holy temple have been reconstructed. Here you will find a book store, museum and a short movie describing the temple instruments.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is considered the holiest Christian site in the world. The church is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and is the location of the Via Dolorosa, or The Way of the Suffering. The Garden Tomb is located here and also, you will find a trail of fourteen Stations of the Cross, said to be the path that Jesus walked from the time of his arrest until the time of his resurrection. Inside the Church of Resurrection are the last five stations. Walking in the path of Jesus is something that Christians thoroughly enjoy and remember for a lifetime.

The Citadel, located in the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem, is a fortress inside the city wall beside the Jaffa Gate. It has been used as a means of protection for centuries and excavations show that it may date back to the time of Herod. The St. James Cathedral, also in the Armenian Quarter, is one of the most beautiful of all the churches in Jerusalem. Built over the tomb of James the Apostle, it was built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The vespers service is amazing, as the seminary students of the Armenian Orthodox seminary chant each afternoon from 3:00 - 3:30 PM, producing a moving and beautiful tone that is unforgettable. The inside of the building is lit by hundreds of oil lamps hung from the ceiling. There are no seats, but the floor is laden with thick Oriental rugs.

The City of David contains ruins which are the very oldest part of Jerusalem, dating back to the capture of the Babylonians in 586 BC. Here, you will find 13th century BC walls, along with fragments of King David's palace. The Mount of Olives contains many interesting places to visit, with recommendations to travel to the top of the mount by taxi and slowly make your way through the points of interest as you make your descent. The Mosque of the Ascension, Church of the Pater Noster, Tombs of the Prophets, and Cave of Gethsemane are just a few of the places you can visit on the slopes of the Mount of Olives.

There are places to eat and stay within each of the four quarters of Old Jerusalem and also within Modern Jerusalem. You will find the hotels in Israel to be of every size, shape, and cost to meet your traveling needs. Finding a hotel in Jerusalem will not be difficult, as there are many choices. Regardless of where you decide to lodge, however, you will not be disappointed in the Christian spiritual journey you find awaiting you in the city of Jerusalem.

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