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- Today, Holy Places is at the "Mount of Olives", rising to the east of Jerusalem, separates the Holy City from the Judean Desert, which from here begins its descent to the Dead Sea. The Kidron Valley, which surrounds Jerusalem to the east, separates the Mount of Olives from the city and from the nearby Mount Zion, located further to the south, from where Jesus set off on foot after the Last Supper, crossing the Valley to reach Gethsemane. Looking towards the north, beyond the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus (820 m.) comes into view, today the site of Hebrew University. From the summit of the Mount of Olives one can enjoy the most evocative panorama of the Holy City, as it can be observed in its entirety from above. Its name, still used today, comes from the olive trees that for thousands of years have grown on the slopes of the Mount. In the Jewish tradition it is also known as the "Mount of Unction", since the oil made from its olives was used to anoint the king and the high priests. Starting in the 12th century the Arabs called it "Jebel et-Tur", a term of Aramaic origin signifying "mount of mounts" or "holy mount"; today they simply refer to it as "et-Tur". The Mount consists of three areas of high ground from which steep roads descend to the valley below: from the north to the south extends "Karm as- Sayyad" ("vineyard of the hunter"), reaching 818 meters of altitude; in the center is "Jebel et-Tur" ("holy mountain") at 808 meters; and to the southwest, on the far side of the Jerusalem-Jericho road, is "Bet el Hawa" ("belly of the wind"), also known as "Mount Scandal", at 713 meters high.
- The Via Dolorosa, also called "Way of Sorrow" winds along narrow street of Jerusalem's Old City, leads from the Ecce Homo Convent to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the traditional route Jesus followed carrying his cross from Pilate's Judgment Hall in the Antonia, to Calvary Hill, or Golgotha, the site of the cruxifixction. Along this route are the "Fourteen Stations of the Cross". Each station marks an event of sacred memory, with chapels for reflection, convents and monasteries of devotion, and the sacred basilica for commemoration. Station 1 "Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium" (John 18:28). Jesus is condemned to death, and on Friday afternoon, when Franciscans started the devotion of the Via Dolorosa, the courtyard of Omariye College is crowded. The minaret located at this place called Antonia Tower marks the site of the Roman Fortress where Jesus was condemned. Station 2 "Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him"(John 19:1). "Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified"(John 19:16). Jesus takes up the Cross. At this place, two Chapels; the Chapel of the Condemnation and the Chapel of the Flagellation. These two Franciscans chapels are standing over the Lithostrotos where Jesus was condemned to death. "And the soldiers led Him away, into the hall called the Praetorium", and clothed Him with purple and plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head"(mark 15:17). Here was the the beginning of the Passion of jesusHe was condemned at the Lithostrotos and began the Way of Cross. Under the Ecce Homo Convent, we can find a large stone pavement, probably the Roman Forum of Aelia Capitolina built by Hadrian (2 C A.D) and from where jesus starts his walk. An arch still stand there, originally part of the triumphal gate of Hadrian's Aelia Capitolina and where Pilate presented the tortured Jesus to the crowed saying "Ecce Homo" (Behold the Man). Station 3 "He who would console me and give me back my life is far from me."(Lamentations 1:16). At the corner on El-Wad Road stands a Polish Chapel. At this place Jesus falls under the Cross for the first time. A high relief above the entrance, by Thaddeus Zielinsky shows Jesus falling under the cross. Station 4 "All you who pass, look ans are: is any sorrow like the sorrow that afflicts me?" (Lamentations 1:12). Tradition says that Mary stood by the roadside in order to see her son. At this place, a little Armenian Catholic chapel shows when Jesus meets his Mother, and makes us remembered their grief and sadness. Station 5 "They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross"(Mark 15:21). The fifth station is marked by a Franciscan oratory at the site where the Via Dolorosa ascends steeply to Golgotha. Station 6 "May the Lord's face shine upon you"(Numbers 6:25). At this place Veronica wipes the sweat from Jesus's face. At this place you will find the Chapel of the Convent of the Little Sisters of Jesus. It was beautifully restored in 1953 at the traditional site of Veronica's house. There are ancient remains of the monastery of Sts. Cosmos and Damian, built in 546-563. Station 7 "With their affliction, He was afflicted. In His love and His pity He redeemed them"(Is. 63:9). At this place, Jesus falls for the second time. A great Roman column, housed in a Franciscan chapel marks Jesus's second fall, just as He was leaving the city through a gate. Tradition tells us that His death notice was posed her. Hence the Christian name for the site "Judgment Gate". Station 8 "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me. Weep rather over yourselves and your children. For if green wood is treated thus, how will the dry wood be treated?"(Luke 23:28). At the eight station Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem. This station is marked by a Latin Cross on the wall of the Greek Monastery. Station 9 "I have come to do your will, O God."(PS 40:8). Jesus falls for the third time. A roman column marks this station. Close by are the apse and roof of the Holy Sepulchre Basilica, a reminder that Jesus collapsed within sight of the place of his Crucifixion. Station 10 "From the sole of the foot to the head are bruises and sores and bleeding wounds."(IS 1:6). Jesus is stripped of His garments. The stairs of the Holy Sepulchre Basilica are leading up to the Chapel of the Stripping of Jesus's Garments. Station 11 "They have pierced My hands and My feet. They have numbered all my bones."(PS. 22) "He came to the Place of Golgotha (Skull in hebrew) where they crucified Him."(john 19:17). In the main latin shrine of the Holy Sepulchre Basilica, wonderfully redecorated with mosaics in 1938, the place where Jesus was nailed to the cross is marked within sight of his Mother. Station 12 "Jesus cried, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani?), once more uttering a loud cry, Jesus gave up His spirit."(Matt. 27:50). Jesus died on the Cross. At this place, a greek altar, ornamented in Eastern style, stands over the Rock of Calvary. It is here the the crosses of Jesus and the two thieves were erected. In the bedrock beneath is a large crack caused by an earthquake that took place on the day Jesus died. The little altar between the main ones on Calvary is adorned with a statue in wood, fashioned in the 16th century and sent from Lisbon in 1778. It recalls the grief of Mary and symbolises the eternal grief of mothers at the death of their children. Station 13 "Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council, and a disciple of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took the body of Jesus down."(Luke 25:53). The Mother of Jesus was there when He was taken down from the Cross. At the same place, the Stone of the Anointment were they put Jesus after his death. Station 14 "And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean, linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in th rock. Then he rolled a stone before the entrance of the tomb." (Matt. 27:59). This is the Christendom's most sacred place. The site of Jesus's burial and Resurrection, housed in its own chapel, is the focal point of the entire Holy Sepulchre Basilica, erected by the Crusaders on Byzantine foundations, dating to the time of Constantine the Great. Via Dolorosa, a place where Churches venerate a mystery of Christ's life, a place sanctified by the prayers of the Faithful
- Berat is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Albania and a a World Heritage site since 2005. It is famous for its grandiose Byzantine churches, however there is a new Cathedral, masterfully built, that exalted in the center of the city: Saint Demetrius Cathedral. Founded in 1994, among many difficulties and at a time when the city of Berat was hit by a cholera epidemic, this place as every orthodox temple, is a place of peace and consolation for all people, regardless of their faith.
- Caesarea is an amazing place, it is a national park where you can find ruins of the ancient Roman port, beautiful beaches and stunning other historical squares. Caesarea is originally an ancient port city built by Herod, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea of Israel between Tel Aviv and Haifa.
- Located in the Southern-west coast of the city, the old town of Acre is a peninsula facing Haifa. We can see there the walls, minaret, church tower, steeples as soon as you get closer to the South entrance of the city. Actually, what you should see is the Ottoman city, built at the age of Dar El Omar and the Governor Ahmad Pasha Al-Jazzar, most commonly called 'the Butcher', in the 18th century. On the right, the entrance to the gardens is the departure for the tour of the vestige of the past civilizations. Before going further, you must understand the historical context of old Acre: Acre (Akko) was founded by 45,000 Crusaders on their way to free Jerusalem from Islamic invaders in 1099. They lived here for over 150 years until driven out by Saladin. While on their way, they killed Jewish "infidels" and destroyed their communities in cities such as Speyer, Worms & Magenza. The prayer "merciful father" was composed in memory of these events. The first Crusader fort was built in Acre in the 12th & 13th centuries by the "Hospitallers" and lasted until Muslim conquest of the city in 1291. The foundations exposed the Crusader city that was destroyed by the Mamelukes, and years later was covered purposefully by no other than Ahmad Pasha Al-Jazzar, who did not want to use Christian ruins and structures. So,the Ottoman Turks built a citadel and palace on the ruins in the 18th & 19th centuries. A prison was added in the 19th century and used by the British (1918-1948) to house captured Jewish underground fighters. Thanks to the Old Acre Development Company, a government company subordinate to the Ministry of Tourism, archaeologists have already been excavating Acre for 50 years. The Company's aim is to implement the tasks outlined in the Company's statute, namely develop the Old City and make it an international tourist city. By the way, the old Acre was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO since 2001. The most impressive sight in Acre is without a doubt, the Hospitaller Fortress. This is during the 12th century, the Crusader period, the Hospitallers started to build the Hospitaller center as we know it today. Anyone who loves castles and ancient history will be pleased to hear about the Hospitaller Fortress of Acre!
- The Cathedral of La Plata is one of the biggest temples in the Americas and the 58th tallest church in the world which can hold thousands of people. Its foundation stone was placed by decision of Dardo Rocha, on April 30th 1884, the project of the church was approved a year later. Finally, it was opened in 1932. Inspired by the European cathedrals of Amiens and Cologne, its plans were drawn by architect Ernesto Meyer under the direction of city planner Pedro Benoit.
- A famous places of pilgrimage is the Russian Orthodox Convent of the Ascension is located in Israel, in the village of A-Tur near a tall tower on Mount Olives next to the old city of Jerusalem. According to Orthodox tradition, this is the holy place where Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after his resurrection.
- It is here that, according to the Bible, the prophet Elijah would have fought against the prophets of Baal, a Canaanite divinity. According to tradition, the prophet Elijah would have hidden himself in a cave at the foot of Mount Carmel. Carmel is a chain of mountains of limestone formation, which detaches itself from the mountains of Samaria to advance towards the Mediterranean and to overhang, like a prow, the city of Haifa. It is twenty-five kilometers long and nearly fifteen wide, it culminates at 525 m. Carmel literally means: divine garden or orchard, in short the vineyard of God. Indeed, the water sources from its hills and gorges, gives it a rich and varied flora, typically Mediterranean: laurels, myrtles, oaks, tamarind trees, cedars, pines, and more. Because of this luxuriant vegetation, as well as the presence of its numerous caves, Mount Carmel had the reputation of becoming the den of criminals!! At the end of the 12th and 13th centuries, with the installation of the first hermits during the Crusades, the Carmelite Order settled on Mount Carmel. However, at the end of the 13th century, he had to leave the Holy Land as a result of Muslim pressure. During the Ottoman reign, the Carmelites returned to the Holy Land. An agreement was reached between the representative of the Vatican and the Emir Turbai (local leader of the Carmel region) so that the prophet Elijah's cave returned to the Carmelites. The agreement was not easy to apply because of the numerous objections of the Orthodox and Greek churches, as well as the Darwish Muslims living in the cave. Despite all these difficulties, the Carmelites managed to live on Mount Carmel for more than 140 years. The monastery's construction began at the time of the Bedouin sovereign Dahar El-Omar, supported by the King of France from 1827. The summit of Mount Carmel was then called "the French Carmel", a nickname that lasts until today.
- Today, Holy Places takes you to Bethpage. This ancient village of Judea was once outside the walls of Jerusalem but has been absorbed into the larger city as it expanded. Translating as "The House of Green Figs," Bethpage was the starting point for Jesus's triumphant entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And here we are at Bethpage, a place of ancient Judea, which today is part of Jerusalem. Holy Places tells the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and shows you Bethpage, literally translated as the House of Green Figs. The village of Bethpage is remembered as the starting point for Jesus' messianic entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday commemoration day. Today there is a Franciscan church where it is thoughtbuilt on the spot thought to be the place of Jesus' departure to Jerusalem. , the church of Bethpage, next to the convent of Palms. IndeedHowever, the exact location of the ancient village, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives and near Bethany, remains uncertain. Bethpage was considered the farthest point of the city of Jerusalem, the limit of the journey of a Shabbat day, about 900 meters from the city, and the farthest point where bread could be baked for use in the temple. It also happens to be halfway between Bethany and Jerusalem. We will discover together inWe'll be spending our time today touring the Franciscan church. this first episode this Franciscan Church. The present day small church is small, built for the Franciscans, a Catholic order begun in the 13 th century, of the custodian of Jerusalem in 1883, is located on the ruins of an old chapel from the Crusader period in the 12th century. This chapel was itself built on the ruins of a 4th century church, commemorating the visit of Jesus Christ to Martha, Lazarus' sister, after his deaafter the death of her brother Lazarus.th, as The church was dedicated to the prophet Zechariah, who wrote that the messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Bethpage is halfway between Bethany and Jerusalem. This church was dedicated to Saint Zechariah, author of the prophecy of the donkey. The Hebrew name of Bethpage, which means "house of green figs or not yet ripe", recalls that in this region, Jesus made a fig tree wither without fruit, according to the Gospel of Matthew. The memory of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is preserved in this church built next to the steep road that descends from the Mount of Olives to the east towards the village of El-Azariyeh (ancient Bethany) and the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. This is where the pilgrims of our time begin the annual Palm Sunday march to Jerusalem, the Palms procession - a tradition begun during the Crusader times in the 12th century.
- The Catholics believe that the Annunciation to Mary was made at the Basilica of Annunciation. However, according to the Greek Orthodox tradition, the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary she will have a son of God at this place, in center of Nazareth, next Mary's Well. Indeed the Church is located over the spring that fed Mary's Well, where she was usually going to take the water for her household.
- the Church of Saint John Baptist of Acre, also called simply the St John Church, a church that stands alongside the city's lighthouse on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It can be approached by walking along the promenade on the south ramparts overlooking the church, or walking from Ha-Haganah Street to Salah & Bazri Street. Acre, capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Crusades, served as the main seaport of the Holy Land. The Franciscan presence dates from 1219 when St. Francis of Assisi landed in Acre. In 1342, Pope Clement VI declared that the Franciscans were the official guardians of the holy places, naming them the "Custodia Terrae Sanctae". Their mission continues today and includes the Church of St. John Baptist of Acre. Built in 1737 the Church of St. John Baptist of Acre was established as the parish for the Latin Rite Catholics of the city. The lighthouse, erected at the end of the rampart in 1864, is still active. However, the maps of the region did not mention it because they were based on measurements of the French navy in 1866 which ignored it. The lighthouse as it is today dates from 1912. Terrae Sanctae makes every effort to build and improve relations between the inhabitants of Acre, regardless of their creed. For some time the date of the church's construction of the church was in doubt. However, a few years ago, inscriptions engraved on the north wall of the building were found confirming the date of 1737. It is assumed that the St. John Church was built on the ruins of an old church. Indeed the Crusaders had built inside the walls of their fortress, a church called Saint Andrew. The Saint Andrew Church was then moved to another stronghold of the Knights Templar not far from there in Philippe Auguste Street, north of the Templar tunnel. This new Saint Andrew Church has since become a Greek Orthodox Church. But let's return our focus to the Saint John Church. Renovations in 1947 restored and added to its original beauty. Upon entering the Church you can see the seal above the door, as well as on the door itself. This is the seal of the Custody of the Terrae Sanctae. It consists of the Crusader cross of the Franciscans: a large red Greek cross with four crosses on each of its corners. The Franciscans adopted this symbol, a sign of the Crusaders of Jerusalem. The symbol of the 5 crosses is based on the 5 holy wounds of Jesus' crucifixion: 2 in the hands, 2 in the legs and one in the side. Below the five crosses are two crossed arms with a cross in the middle. It is the symbol of the guardianship of the holy places. The bare hand is the hand of Jesus, while the hand with a homespun sleeve is that of Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order.
- This deep blue waters of the lake is an important source of water for Israel. It is fed mainly from the Jordan River, supplemented by underground springs. The bottom is a distinctive black basalt sand which lends the lake its unusually dark blue hue. Pipelines from the lake in turn supply cities in the Negev desert with the water they need. This 166 square mile inland lake has other names as well. In Hebrew, it is called the Kinneret Sea, Kinneret deriving from the Hebrew word for "violin" in reference to the lake's shape. It is also known as the Lake of Tiberias, due its proximity to the ancient city of the same name. Founded by Herod Antipas and named in honor of the Roman Emperor, Tiberias today is a seaside resort, popular with the locals who come to relax on the beach or camp on the weekends. Of course, the lake is most famous as the location of a several episodes in the life of Jesus of Nazareth and there are a number of archaeological sites that demonstrate its significance over the course of the past 2000 years. Churches from every era dot the landscape. For example, east of Tiberias, is a Greek Orthodox Church built in 1740 by the Bedouin Daher El-Omar. Under the fresh waters of the Sea of Galilee is another find. In 1986, archaeologists discovered a Roman fishing boat, a boat that dates back to the first century A.D., earning it the nickname of "Jesus' boat." Let us now go up to the North West of the Sea of Galilee. There we find spread below Mount Arbel, the fertile Plain of Gennesaret. Thanks to the richness of its soil, and the temperate climate, the inhabitants are able to grow a diverse array of crops. Mount Arbel is a cliff with a height of 380 meters and today can be climbed with a series of ladders and ropes. A person scaling the cliff may not want to look down but the landscape of the Sea of Galilee and the fertile plains is simply extraordinary and is worth the rattled nerves. At the top of the mountain are even more historical sites, such as the remains of a fortress dating from the revolt of the Jews against Herod, and an ancient synagogue built during the Byzantine era.
- Here we are again in Jerusalem, in the gardens of the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. Holy Places showed you the upper part of the Church, in its first episode. This church evokes three important moments of the Passion: the appearance of Jesus before the High Priest Caiaphas, the death sentence of Jesus by the Sanhedrin, the triple denial of Peter and his repentance as the cock crowed. Remember that Gallicantu means: the cockcrow. Built over the Deep Pit, the crypt has three icons depicting Peter's meeting with Jesus after his denial, the tears of his repentance, and the renewal of his mission by the risen Christ. The crypt occupies an important flat space carved out of the rock, which could very well correspond to the courtyard where Pierre was keeping himself warm with the guards. This space continues outside the church to the stepped street. On the second level, a bronze statue, with extraordinarily bluish tints, of the Suffering Servant invites the pilgrims to contemplation and repentance. Convinced pilgrims will take the time to meditate. On the other side, a staircase leads to the chapel of the crypt, where the stone is made alive in a white marble sanctuary. Three paintings, in the style of modern icons, adorn the place. Here, the crypt icon, left side. Jesus places on Peter a look full of mercy and forgiveness. A small scene shows Pierre sitting by a fire. Various characters point at him accusingly, while he says he does not know Jesus. While waiting for the sunrise, Jesus was handed over to the guards; when he is going to be taken to appear before the Sanhedrin, a cock starts to crow. According to the Catholic Church, St. Peter in Gallicantu is the central place of the vocation of Peter. For the Christians Peter enters into the merciful plan of God: that of forgiveness. Here, the crypt icon, right side. The risen Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to his apostles gone fishing. He hands the pastor's staff to Peter who has just erased his triple denial by his triple affirmation of love: "Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you." This is the true conversion of Peter: he went from "me, I" to "you, you". He will take care of the flock entrusted to him; henceforth he will be able to follow Jesus to death.
- Holy Places TV takes you on a walk in the charming village of Ein Kerem, located on the western slopes of Jerusalem, to discover the Saint John the Baptist Church, also known as Saint John the Baptist Ba'Harim (ba areem); which means "Saint John the Baptist in the mountains" in Hebrew. Ein Kerem, a suburb of Jerusalem, is far from the tumults of the city. It is a village of craftsmen, surrounded by verdant mountains, bell towers, a spring and wonders at every corner. Today, we want to make you discover the Christian meaning of this place. Ein Kerem is known as the birthplace of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, and the place of the Visitation, where Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth before John was born. From the center of the village, we have to go up north by a narrow road to arrive in front of the church of Saint John the Baptist. It is a church built in 1939 by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi, who was also a Franciscan monk. He was nicknamed the architect of the Holy Land, having built, among many others: the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane, the Chapel of the Mount of the Beatitudes and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This church was built on the site described, according to tradition, as the house where John the Baptist was born, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Indeed, this church commemorates its birth. Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary and her husband Zachariah, were already old and had no children. According to Christian tradition, Zachariah or Zechariah, was a rabbi of the Second Temple, and his mother, Elisabeth (or Elisheva), was the granddaughter of Matan, a rabbi of Aaron's lineage. Despairing of not having a child, Zachariah no longer spoke, and it is said that he found the word again on the day of his son's birth. To commemorate that day, on the wall of the courtyard of the church, a little like that found in the Church of the Visitation, the song of the thanksgiving that Zachariah sang at the birth of John the Baptist: "The Benedictus" is translated into 24 languages. On the south side of the courtyard is the monastery where the Franciscan monks now reside, and maintain the church. The church of Saint John the Baptist Ba'Harim is a Catholic church that belongs to the order of the Franciscans. It contains the seal of the Custody of the Holy Land. Notice the two hands engraved in the stone on the porch of the church, each holding a twig. One symbolizes Jesus crucified, the other the hand of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of the Franciscans, charged today with the protection of this holy place on behalf of the Vatican.
- Holy Places present you today the city of Afek-Antipatris. Antipatris is an abundant archaeological site located at the Mediterranean Israeli coast. The fortified city of Tel Afek, halfway between Jerusalem and Caesarea, is today in a calm and silent park. The site lies near the perennial springs of the Yarkon-River. It is now part of the Yarkon National Park in Israel. More than 6,000 years of successive cities have been built on the mound overlooking the springs of the Yarkon River. The archaeological excavations at Afek-Antipatris were carried out from 1934 to 1936 by the Department of Antiquities of the British Government of Palestine under the direction of Yaakov Ouri. New excavations were organized between 1972 and 1985 by Tel Aviv University under the direction of Professor Moshe KoHavi. {H is like R guttural}. Tel Afek strategic importance derives from its location west of "Afek Passage", which is a part of the Ancient "Via Maris", the ancient road from Egypt to Mesopotamia. Nowadays, Mesopotamia corresponds to Modern Iraq, Syria and Turkey. This Location attracted humans to settle at the site, and is one of the reasons for its settlement sequence from the Early Bronze Age until the Ottoman period. Tel Afek-Antipatris story begins at the early Bronze Age, i.e. the Third Millennium B.C.E., as one of the earliest cities in Palestine. The Name: Afek, is first mentioned as an Amorite city during the beginning of the Second Millennium B.C.E, i.e. The Middle Bronze Age. The remains from this city include the city wall that lies under the northern wall of the Ottoman fortress, and 5 palaces. Some of the palaces were ruined during the Egyptian conquest of Afek leaded by Thutmose III around 1475 B.C.E.
- According to legend, the city originally bore the name of Japheth, the third son of Noah, who built it after the Flood. The current name of Jaffa or Yafo in Hebrew, comes from the word Yofi which means beauty and "Yaffa" a common woman's name in Israel, which also means beautiful. Jaffa, although modest in size is and always has been a significant port. It is from here that the prophet Jonah embarked when he fled from God's call to preach to the Assyrians. The Bible tells how his boat was caught in a storm, and he was tossed overboard by the crew and subsequently engulfed by a giant fish, in whose belly he remained for three days. Jaffa is also mentioned in Greek mythology. According to legend, Poseidon forced Andromeda to be chained to a rock near Jaffa's short to be sacrificed to the Kraken. Don't worry, she was rescued by Perseus. A rock bearing Andromeda's name is also in the port of Jaffa. The picturesque old town of Jaffa can be visited on foot or by bicycle, day or night. Its historic districts have been transformed into an arts and cultural center. Its Arab architecture, ancient archaeological remains, churches, mosques, museums, cobblestone streets, studios and art galleries, clubs, and restaurants make it one of Israel's must-see tourist attractions. Jaffa has also become famous for its lively night life. Having been a port city for 4000 years Jaffa has been dominated successively by the Egyptians, the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Hebrews, and the Romans. Jaffa experienced great prosperity under each of these rulers until it was captured by the Arabs in 636. Many great conquerors like Saladin or St Louis fell under the spell of the cityscape and its buildings. Invaded many times, from Roman legions to Turkish sultans, to Richard the Lionheart and Napoleon in 1799, the city lost its importance after the disappearance of the Ottoman Empire. In the twelfth and thirteenth century, Christians and Muslims disputed Jaffa, considered one of the Scales of the Levant.
- This Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic Church located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem next to the Garden of Gethsemane which means in Aramaic oil press. Several trees in this garden are older than any other olive tree reported in the scientific literature DNA tests show that these trees were originally planned it from the same parent plan they could actually be from the time of Jesus can you believe it. According to Christian's tradition, Jesus was praying to his father right here on this rock on the night of the agony ( known as "Jesus Agony in Gethsemane") which is the night before his crucifixion. The Funds for the construction of the church that we see today was donated by 12 countries, hence the alternative name of "The Church of All Nations". If you look at the ceiling or the roof, from outside, you can see 12 domes - one for each country. When you are inside the All Nations Church, the dim-lighting effects, produced by using translucent purplish blue alabaster windows, give you the dispirited atmosphere on the night of the agony. Inside the church before the main altar in the central prayer hall, lays the Rock of Agony on which Jesus has prayed the night before the Passion (Jesus Agony in the Garden). The rock is encircled by an Iron wreath cast in the form of the Crown of thorns to recall the crown of thorns that that roman soldiers placed on Jesus' head to mock him as the King of the Jews. On the wall behind the altar, there is a big mosaic depicting Jesus leaning on the rock while praying to his father while an angel descending from above to console him and the three disciples are sleeping below an olive tree. To the right of this mosaic there is another one depicting the Judas; betrayal of Jesus and to the left there is another mosaic depicting Jesus identifying himself to the roman soldiers who came to arrest him. Now lets have a look at the Church of All Nations from outside. In the front there is a Portico supported by four structural columns. Each group of Columns bears the status of one of the authors of the canonical Gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Here we see a golden mosaic depicting Jesus ads the symbolic link between the Material world and the creator: - In the center -- Jesus is kneeling in prayer. The Crimson color of his robe symbolizes the material world (Flesh and blood). - To Jesus left (your right)-- an angel is receiving his heart which he scarified for the sake of humanity. The crowed is shown beseeching God with prayer and tears for salvation. And a mother mourning for her son whom she old in her harms. - To Jesus' right (your left) - are depictions of earthly notable: A warrior holding a sword, a ruler kneeling in front of his crown and a wise scholar in a white robe symbolizing life experience. They are all bowing their head and recognizing Jesus; supremacy. - God is portrayed hovering over them all, holding a tablet with the Greek Letters Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) as written in the Scriptures: ;I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending (Rev. 1:18)
- Holy Places makes you discover a haven of peace in the region of Ein Kerem: the Convent of Our Lady of Sion. Ein Kerem is a village in the Jerusalem district, far from the tumult of the capital. His name means "the source of the vine. Indeed, it is very pleasant to walk in this village of craftsmen, surrounded by the forests of Jerusalem, and full of treasures like its steeples, its source and its beautiful residential houses. Holy Places has already shown you some places. Today we dwell on the Convent of Our Lady of Sion, founded by the Ratisbonne brothers. Theodore and Marie Alphonse Ratisbonne, two Alsatian Jewish brothers converted to Christianity, founded the monastery of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in 1861. Theodore Ratisbonne, born in Strasbourg in 1802, of a Jewish family had received no religious training. Indeed, although his education was full of righteousness and affection, his parents did not practice. "Religion was disgusting to me, he wrote, mine like any other. The teaching of a young professor of philosophy, Louis Bautain, who drew his knowledge from the Scriptures, gradually led Theodore towards the discovery of the God of the Old and New Testaments. He is then baptized at twenty-four, and will live a Christian life until he becomes a priest. As for his younger brother, Marie Alphonse, it is in Rome, in an apparition of Mary, that he receives the grace of the Christian faith. Together, in 1843, they founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion. In 1852 Theodore brought together the first core of what would become the Congregation of Religious of Our Lady of Sion. But at the time, Theodore Ratisbonne will have to use cunning to acquire the land necessary for the construction of the convent. Indeed, Ottoman law, in force in the nineteenth century, prohibited the sale of land to non-Muslims. It is in his private house that Alphonse Ratisbonne begins to create an orphanage. Taking the path to the Convent, one can still see its modest home, surrounded by cedars over 130 years old.In this convent, generations of sisters are faithful to the vocation of this village. There are two communities of Zion that inhabit this convent: a community of contemplative sisters, and one of apostolic sisters.
- Holy Places TV brings you to the Tabgha region, which sits two hundred meters above sea level. Near the shores of Lake Tiberias, we're visiting The Church of the Multiplication, the scene of a significant episode in the life of Jesus. Tabgha is a fertile valley on the northwest bank of Lake Tiberias, between Capernaum and Magdala, where you can find several sources. It certainly gets its name from this fact! The word "Tabgha" may be an Arabic deformation of the Greek word Heptameron, which means "seven sources." These sources are still in operation today. According to Christian tradition, it was here that Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fishes, transforming the meager offering into enough food to feed the entire crowd who came to hear him speak. Here, on this mountain, after delivering the Discourse on the Beatitudes, he accomplished a true miracle. Another episode of Holy Places TV is devoted to the discourses on the Beatitudes. Finally, it was here that Jesus would have appeared to the Apostles following his resurrection, when he was at the origin of his second miraculous catch, when he confirmed Saint Peter as the primate of the church. To commemorate these major events, Christians, in the early Byzantine period, built monasteries, sanctuaries, and churches in Galilee and on the shores of Lake Tiberias. The first building was erected in the fourth century and has been dated to the year 352. At the site was a small chapel, and only part of the foundation was excavated. It appears that this church was destroyed by an earthquake in the year 419. It was subsequently rebuilt in the year 480, as a Byzantine basilica with three naves. The church was not spared the effects of the Persian and Arab invasions to come. This small chapel is probably the sanctuary described by Egeria, who made a pilgrimage there at the end of the fourth century. She wrote of a land "where water abounds, where luxuriant vegetation grows, with many trees and palm trees." It was in this fertile garden that Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. At the time of the transformation, Jesus, accompanied by the crowd, had left the nearby dwellings, and it was late in the day before the apostles mentioned the problem of providing food and provisions to the large assembly. The stone where Jesus lay the bread became an altar. Over the years, the many pilgrims who visited the site broke it into pieces to cure their ailments. So, here we are, at the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish. First purchased by the German Catholic Mission of Palestine in 1888, excavations were conducted as early as 1892. In 1932, German archaeologists Mader and Schneider continued excavating the site. They discovered the foundation of a splendid, fifth century Byzantine church. Excavations that took place in 1968 were overseen by Bellarmino Bagatti and Stanislao Loffreda, on behalf of a Franciscan academic society in Jerusalem, the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.
- Holy Places takes you through an ancient village near Jerusalem. Ein Kerem, the place of the birth of Saint John the Baptist, as well as the visitation of Mary. Thus, Ein Kerem has become one of the leading destinations for Christian pilgrims. Today, we present a tour of its five churches and monasteries, and allow you to discover this pastoral village, far enough from the chaotic noise of the capital city. Today in this first episode we visit these holy places in honor St. John the Baptist Holy Places returns to Jerusalem's suburbs, in Ein Kerem, and present the second episode of Ein Kerem and the Christian revelation. If in our first episode we visited the holy places in honor of Saint John the Baptist, in this second episode, it is Marie who is in the spotlight. In it's native language, Ein Kerem means "the source of the vine". To walk in this craftsmen's village, surrounded by the forests of Jerusalem, full of treasures like its steeples, its sources and residential houses, is truly a pleasure to behold. We start our visit from the village center, where we walk by a narrow path to reach the church of Saint John the Baptist. According to tradition, the church was built on house where John the Baptist, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Marie's cousin) was born. Indeed, this church commemorates his birth. Its steeple in the foreground gives thanks to Saint John the Baptist, whom, as stated in Christian texts, was born in a cave inside the church. According to these texts, his father, Zachariah or Zechariah was a rabbi of the Second Temple, and his mother, Elizabeth (or Elisheva), was the granddaughter of Matan, a rabbi from the Aaron's line. Elisabeth, They were already old and had no children. It is a church built in 1939 by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi, who was also a Franciscan monk. He was nicknamed the architect of the Holy Land, having built, among many others: the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane, the Chapel of the Mount of Beatitudes, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. To commemorate that day, on the wall of the church courtyard, the song of thanksgiving that Zachariah sang at the birth of John the Baptist: " The Benedictus" is inscribed in the stone texture, translated into 24 languages.
- Located in Lower Galilee, at the edge of Nazareth hills, Mount Tabor rises to a height of 562 meters. Mount Tabor can be seen from miles around demonstrating its strategic importance. According to Christian tradition, Jesus climbed to an unnamed "high mountain" with three disciples and was glorified before them, while conversing with Moses and Elijah.
- This time, Holy Places introduces you the fascinate site of Tel Megiddo, which had been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. is located in Jezreel Valley near to Wadi Ara spring, at 30 km south east of Haifa. Tel Megiddo is also known as Tel Al-Mutaslam, which means: "The mound of the Governors;.The first to identify the mound as ancient Megiddo is Ishtori Haparchi. He was a Jewish scholar that investigated the Holy land and the Halacha (The Jewish Law), between the 13th and 14th century. He identified Ancient Megiddo near to the Arab village of « Lajun ». The ancient city was built on the intersection of two important international paths: - one that connects Phoenicia and the Acre Valley with the main mountain road; - the other leads from Egypt to Syria. This last road was called in the Bible: "the Sea Road", this same road will be called during Roman Empire: Via Maris. Due to its location, Megiddo had influential position in any important military conquest between Palestine and Syria. It also affected on its economic and commercial importance throughout history. Megiddo was also blessed with fertile soil that allows an abundant agriculture. The urban character of Megiddo developed already from 29th to 27th century B.C.E. Around that time, a citadel was built, and symbolized the first kernel of the future city. Megiddo was during biblical times, one of the most important cities in the ancient land of Canaan, before its conquest by the people of Israel. Indeed, during Early Bronze Age, the city of Megiddo expanded and archaeologies discovered temples, palace and a special round shrine that are related to this period. The main find from the Canaanite period are the city gate, and the original stone paving from the period that leads to it. At this time, it seems the city was not fortified, which meant that the gate was ceremonial rather than defensive. Flanked by 4 rooms, the gate served as the entrance to the palace complex. The first course of the gate, which came into contact with the ground, was faced with slabs of basalt, more durable than the limestone of which the rest of the gate was built. The excavation unearthed the charred remains of olive wood beams that had been inserted between the courses of stone. The gate was preserved to a considerable height and therefore during conservation it did not have to be raised by much.
- Located in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem, on a small narrow square, stuck between the houses of the old town, and at the foot of a minaret, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands up at the end of Via Dolorosa. Arriving at the 10th station, the Holy Sepulcher contains the 4 last stations of the Way of the Cross. The different stations are marked with round plates on the walls and doors.
- Holy Places welcome you to the Baptismal site of Yardenit, meaning the Little Jordan. We are back to the Sea of Galilee shores, to the actual site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. The Sea of Galilee is a popular site for Christians to visit. There, they can walk the paths Jesus walked and even see a boat from His time that was discovered in 1986.
- Holy Places introduces you to the Bet She'Arim { bEhT/ shEH / AI- Reem } National Park, as well as the history of Jewish settlement of the time, the history of its inhabitants, their actions and also their great faith. Bet She'Arim, which in Hebrew means the House of Two Gates, was founded in the late 1st century before Christian time during the reign of King Herod, and reached its peak in Roman times. In 351, the city endured considerable suffering during the crushing of the Jewish revolt against Gallus Caesar. He was at the time the ruler of the East, under the orders of Emperor Constantine II. Then the city declined and was abandoned at the beginning of Arab domination in the seventh century. We will begin our visit by the necropolis of Bet She'Arim. Today in our first episode we will begin our visit by the Necropolis of Bet She'Arim. Added to the list of World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2015, the Necropolis of Bet She'Arim, was a hotbed of Jewish renewal. This necropolis, composed of a series of catacombs, developed from the second century AD, as the main Jewish burial place outside Jerusalem. Indeed, after the failure of the second Jewish revolt of Bar Korba against Roman rule, access to Jerusalem was no longer possible. The Jews could no longer be buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and could no longer hold public office as it was. Thus in 70 BC, Bet She'Arim became the seat of the Sanhedrin { San -Head- ReeN }, the Jewish High Court and the Supreme Council. Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi { y uh - h oo - d uh / AE - Nae - See} was the spiritual and political leader of the Jewish people. He was the leader of the Sanhedrin at the time and was buried here: in catacomb number 14 exactly, which we will visit a little further. Bet She'Arim was destroyed by the Romans during the Gallus Revolt of 351 AD and since then never recovered its former glory. So why do we talk about Jewish revival in Bet She'Arim? Simply because, Bet She'Arim is the birthplace of the oral Torah: the Mishna, one of the most important symbols of the heritage of the Jewish people. It was Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi who was at the origin while presiding over the Sanhedrin. Burial here made Bet She'Arim a pilgrimage destination for Jews around the world. Located southeast of Haifa, these catacombs are a treasure trove of works of art with inscriptions in Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew. It is a unique testimony about Judaism. Archaeological discoveries are mainly dated from the Mishna and Talmud times. Nevertheless, the human presence on the scene has been attested since the 9th century before Christ. In his autobiography, Flavius Josephus, 1st century Roman historiographer, mentions Bet She'Arim as Besara. Then, after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the presence of the wise Yohanan Ben-Nuri { Yoh haa NAAN - b EH n - Noo - Ree}, close to Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai { sh EE m oh n - b AA r - y oh High} is also mentioned in Bet She'Arim.
- After Maresha's destruction in 40 B.C.E. the site transferred to Beit Govrin. Beit Govrin is first mentioned as a Jewish village during the First Jewish rebellion and its meaning in Hebrew is "The House of Men". Beit Govrin was taken by the Roman in 68 C.E, most of its Jewish settlers escaped the village and others were taken captive. The romans settled there one of their garrison force, and since then Beit Govrin became an important Roman center in Palestine. The site's population included Jews and Roman citizens and a few years later it became one of main mixed cities in all of Palestine. Beit Govrin is located on an important junction, and in 130 C.E in the Days of Emperor Hadrian an important road that connected "Ilia Capitoline" (Jerusalem) to Beit Govrin was paved. The road made Beit Govrin a main center, and in 200 C.E it was recognized by the Roman rein as a "Polis" and got a new name "Aleothropolis" meaning the city of the free people in Greek. From the Roman Period remained the Amphitheater, and the Bathhouse. The amphitheater used for Gladiators Battles, these shows were especially appreciated by the Roman army, and near most of Roman Army bases there are both Amphitheater and a Bathhouse. And in fact, we know that a roman base excited here, and even an inscription that mentions the sixth Legion of the Roman army was discovered in Beit Govrin. The uniqueness of this Amphitheater is that even though it is not the only Amphitheater discovered in Palestine, it is the only one the was built initially for this purpose, where as others used for other early purposes like Hippodrome (Horse races) and etc. The Amphitheater could contain 3,500 people. The Amphitheater included temple for the prayers of the Gladiators before combats. On the altar of the temple the name of Emperor Commodus was carved, implying that the Amphitheater was built before 180 C.E, perhaps right after the Second Jewish rebellion. The functioning of the building ended in the 4 th century C.E, maybe because of the citys conversion to Christianity or perhaps because of the 363 C.E Earthquake. In the Byzantine period the Amphitheater turned into one of the city's market. The bathhouse of Beit Govrin was built in the 3th century C.E, and was one of the most common roman culture features. Its remaining are located near the Crusaders church and fortifications, and as the case of the Amphitheater stopped exciting at some point during the Byzantine or Early Muslim period.
- The Church of The Nativity is situated in Betlehem to the south of Jerusalem. In 327 the church of Nativity was commissioned by Constantine the Great and his mother Helena over the site that was traditionally considered to be located over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus.
- Holy Places brings you to Zawiyat al-Shaziliyya in Akko. As we have seen in our previous episodes, Akko's strategic location has sparked the lust of the major regional powers for centuries. Indeed, being at the crossroads of the great ancient trade routes and of the three biggest monotheistic faiths, this port contains a tremendous religious heritage. To understand this beautiful site's name, Zawiyat al Shaziliyya, one must first grasp the foundations and religious currents at its origin. First of all, what is a Zawiya? A Zawiya is not a mosque in the ordinary sense of the term. It is rather a religious complex that in addition to containing a mosque has facilities to allow faithful to study, pray, eat, and even sleep at night. It is thus a place of retreat, and of communion, for the followers of Sufism. It has been so for centuries as evidenced by the fact that the founding members of the Sufi brotherhood are buried here. A Zawiya is therefore a community center that is both spiritual and social. Zawiyat al-Shaziliyya of Akko allowed these faithful, so-called Dervishes, to come and leave at will. The word dervish means Poor or beggar in Persian. The founder of the Dervish order in Acre was Sheikh Ali Nur al-Din el-Yisroti (also known as "el-Magrabi"). He built this Zawiya in 1862. Born in Tunis in 1793, Ali Nur el-Di left the city, and his wealthy and respected family, to go to Mecca. While he was stopping in Lebanon, the prophet Jona appeared to him in a dream. In his dream the prophet ordered him to travel to Acre and spread his religious doctrine. Sheikh Ali Nur el-Din arrived in Acre in 1849. He prayed first in the mosque el-Zeituna { el - Zae:tuh:nah}, whose minaret and green dome we see in the distance. Then he built his own Zawiya in Tarshiha {taer : shee: hae}, a few kilometers north of Akko. The Sheikh impressed the Muslim leaders of Akko and many decided to join the Sufi order. This increased the new doctrine's popularity and soon it rapidly spread throughout the city and region. Indeed, many people flocked to Akko and recognized the Sheikh's spiritual authority. Among them was the then Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid, who decided to offer Ali Nur el-Di property in Damascus, Acre, Beirut, Western Galilee, and southern Lebanon. The entrance to the Zawiya is via a simple blue gate. The imposing building is covered by a huge blue dome and at its summit a golden crescent turns to the sky. The beauty inside is best shown rather than described. Let's step pass through the gate. Here we are in the peristyle, a sort of cloister or continuous porch, formed by a row of columns that surrounds the courtyard of the Zawiya. This covered forecourt runs around the entire building to protect worshipers from light and heat. Here again, is prominent in the stained glass frames and most decorations.
- HolyPlaces TV takes you today to Susita (soo si tuh), or Hippos, the horse city in the majestic Golan Heights. A few minutes' drive from the Sea of Galilee hides an old city that flourished through Hellenic and Roman times. The city stands on a rectangle hill top, 350 meter above the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. First explored in 1885 by a German expedition, the city occupies an area of approximately 37 acres and was first built in the 2 nd century BC. In those times the sovereign of the holy land were the mighty Seleucids [si-loo-sid] empire kings. To reinsure their Sovereignty they built cities in the region, including Susita. From its early days the city was defined as ''Polis'' [pólis] which gave her benefits and a respectable status. In 63 BC the Roman Empire began to gain lands in the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, including the holy land. After the changes made in the regime, the Romans included Susita in the ''Decapolis'' or ''the ten cities'' a union made to strengthen the control over this part of the empire and Implement Hellenic culture in a crowded Jewish area. Among those cities where the well-known Scytopolis (Scytho-polis), today's Beit-shean (bayt-she- an), Jerash (Je-Ruch) the kingdom of Jordan and Damascus. Surrounded by a 1350 meters long wall, the city itself was a classic Roman polis. Columned streets, public structures including Roman bath house, Odeion, forum and more. One of the most remarkable features of Susita is the mesmerizing mixture of black basalt and white limestone objects. Sometimes, embedded together to create one artifact. During the ''Pax romana'' (Pacs Romanuh) or the Roman peace era, between the 1 st to 3 rd century AD the city developed greatly and most of the public structures build at that time are still seen today. From the 4st century the Roman Empire began to be more and more Christian. The impact that this process made on the site revels the deep and profound Christianization of the era and region. 8 churches were constructed during that period of time, by the Christian Romans, the Byzantines. The hill is surrounded by steep slopes and the only reasonable access is from the east, near today's Kibbuts Ein-Gev (Heyn-gav). As in ancient times our visit to the complex will began from west to east. A few minutes' drive from Ein-Gev will take us to the back of the topographic saddle from which we will began our ascend to to Susita, but before hence we will encounter the ''Necropolis'', the city of the dead, which is the ancient Hellenic cemetery, abundant with simple methods of burial, the stone Sarcophagus, and the rich population Mausoleums.
- This time Holy Places take you to Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant Church; a church located in the northwest side of Abu-Gosh village on a 756 meters high hill. This is the highest point of the village, facing the impressive landscape of Jerusalem's Hills.
- Holy Places is once again in Nazareth, and decided to take you visit a very special church: the Basilica of Jesus the Adolescent also called the Salesian Church. Holy Places has already showed you Nazareth, with its churches, its source, and its monasteries. Today is a very different church that we offer you to discover. The Basilica of Jesus The Adolescent or The Salesian Church is a Catholic Church of Nazareth belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco. You can see it from the city center and it is visible from afar. There are many churches in Nazareth, but none are more beautiful than this one. In Gothic style, the church was built between 1906 and 1923, on a high hill west of the city. This hill is called "Mount of the Start", and according to the Christian tradition, Jesus spent his youth there. After Herod's death, Jesus and his parents, then exiled to Egypt, return to Nazareth, and from there Jesus becomes: Jesus of Nazareth. He lived there until his majority. So we can ask ourselves the question of what Jesus did during his adolescence? Indeed, it seems that, in the Bible, as in the Gospels, there are no texts or little about his adolescence. The Bible speaks of Jesus from birth to twelve years old and resumes when he is thirty ... Apart from the episode of the Gospel, according to Luke, who recounts the visit to the Temple of Jerusalem at the age of twelve, the youth of Jesus until the beginning of his ministry, at the age of thirty, is not mentioned in classical sources. Those 30 years are described as "hidden" years because the Scriptures are silent about them. Then, of course, some have developed different theses, according to which, he was a carpenter, or he would have traveled to Egypt, India, France and even England. Finally, some authors consider this period as a time of spiritual learning.
- We are in Bethany, at 15 staidums from Jerusalem according to the Gospel of St John, where Jesus loved to retire, far from the tumult of Jerusalem. Always located on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, it is here that Jesus raised Lazarus, and Holy Places takes you today to discover his tomb, and the church that accompanies it. Here the friends of Jesus had a house. It was Mary, Martha her sister and Lazarus. But Bethany has a complicated history with a series of churches related to Lazarus' tomb, and other references to the New Testament. To get to Bethany you will pass through the city of Maale Adumim, west of the separation barrier between Israel and Jordan. In Bethany is located the symbolic event called the resurrection of Lazarus and Simon the Leper received Jesus at home. It was on the site of the tomb of Lazarus that a basilica was built in the 4th century, around which was developed the town that today is called El-Azarieh, an Arabic name derived from the Latin name of the city. time: Lazarium. It is Eusebius of Caesarea who first speaks o f this place at the beginning of the 4th century. Then, the pilgrim Etheria, also called Egeria, in her pilgrimage story in the Holy Land: "Route", describes in a famous way the liturgy of the Saturday of Lazarus: - "Arrived at Lazare, a crowd so many gather there that no only the place itself but the surrounding fields are filled with people. It says hymns and antiphons adapted to the day and place, and in the same way one makes readings there. When the moment comes to finish, the Passover is announced; that is to say, a priest goes up to a high place and reads the passage of the gospel which says: "Six days before Passover Jesus went to Bethany ..." Lazarus lived in the village of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair when he visited the house of Simon the Leper a week before the crucifixion of Jesus. It was her brother, Lazare, who was sick. The two sisters sent a messenger to warn Jesus that "he whom you love is sick." When he arrived, Jesus found Lazarus in the tomb for four days already. So the stone covering his tomb was removed. Jesus exclaimed in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his feet and hands tied with bandages, and his face was wrapped in a shroud. Jesus said to them, "Delay him and let him go." This is how the resurrection of Lazarus is told in the Gospel of St John. According to Christian tradition it is this miracle that would have determined the religious leaders of Jerusalem to condemn Jesus to death. For Franciscan Albert Storme, the reason why pilgrims were attracted by this place is not based on "an occasional wonder". For him, in the eyes of pilgrims, the resurrection of Lazarus prefigured that of Christ and announced their own return from the grave. " We understand the playfulness of building churches as early as the 4th century. At the time of the Crusaders, in 1138, was erected a rich Benedictine monastery, filled with royal favors, near the tomb of Lazarus. Indeed, Queen Melisande establishes a Benedictine convent. The Crusaders largely rebuilt the church, strengthening its walls to carry the stone vault. In addition to the modifications, a fourth church was built, above the tomb of Lazarus, it was intended for the use of the nuns.
- Holy Places guides you today through the crucial traces of Jesus, by visiting the Church of Dominus Flevit. Accompanied triumphantly by his disciples in the midst of a Messianic ascent, the Lord wept, in Latin: Dominus Flevit. Going down the Mount of olives.
- Holy Places takes you today to Kursi, the site of the ruins of the largest Byzantine monastery in Israel. Kursi is located 500 meters east of the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in the foothills of the Golan Heights, 200 meters below sea level. It faces Magdala located on the opposite side of the lake, about 12 km to the west.
- Located on the seafront in the port city of Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv in Israel, is the Kalaat El-Mina Citadel, or Minat al-Qala (the harbor castle). The Caliph Abed el Malek has it built, he is the one who also erected the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem around the year 700.
- This Holy Place honors the visitation that Mary the mother of Jesus made to Elizabeth who was the mother of John the Baptist. It is the said site where Mary is believed to have recited her song of praise.
- Holy Places TV takes you on a hill, at the foot of the Sea of Galilee and fly over the Mount of Beatitudes. We will also visit the church of the Beatitudes. According to Christian tradition, it is here that Jesus pronounced his Sermon, on the Mount. Between Tabgha and Capernaum you won't miss the remarkable view of the Sea of Galilee and the Plain of Genesareth. Indeed, from the Mount of the Beatitudes, the view on the Sea of Galilee, the Mounts of Galilee and on the plateau of the Golan is exceptional! A mountain that rises 200 meters above the lake but that has a negative altitude because it rests 25 meters below sea level. It is one of the lowest peaks emerging in the world. When standing in this fascinating place, one should be dazzled by the view and must understands that Jesus chose it to gather thousands of people there. Effectively, it was a natural surface, where the land was not cultivable because of the rocky strata at little depth. However, thanks to the seven gushing springs, the grass grew everywhere and the palms covered everything with their shadow. Fishing was abundant because the warm currents of the lake attracted a lot of fish. Lastly, the flanks of the surrounding hills rising on the shore, permitted a natural amphitheater favorable to speech. The church is now maintained by the National Association to Rescue Italian Missionaries (NARIM). A sign at the entrance gives you the walk to follow, among other, no dogs, no fire arms, and for you ladies, no lipstick! It is here, then, that Jesus pronounced his well-known sermon: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs!" The pilgrimage Egeria, coming from Spain, mentions it in a Latin text that she wrote around 380. The Church of the Beatitudes is a Catholic church consecrated in 1938, which was built by Antonio Barluzzi, who was nicknamed the Architect of the Holy Land! He decided to build a neo-Byzantine style church, according to an octagonal plan, to recall the eight beatitudes which are described in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. This church was also built not far from the remains of a church built right after the Act of Tolerance of Christian worship by the Roman authorities.
- Holy Places TV takes you on another journey to the city of Acre. We will explore the Church of St. Andrew, located in the old town. Now known as Akko, this centuries old city has seen the rise and fall of many civilizations. Its stones saw the passing of the Bronze Age, the coming and going of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, Arab conquests, the Crusaders, even Napoleon Bonaparte.
- This church originally bore the name of Basilica of Eleona. Indeed, backed by the Mount of Olives, its name comes from the Greek eliaon, which means olive grove. If this church today is linked to the cave in which Jesus taught his disciples the prayer beginning with Our Father who art in heaven," that was not always the case. Indeed, the Church of the Pater Noster, was first a church related to the Ascension of Christ erected by Helen or Saint Helena, the Roman empress in the 3rd century AD. The Roman emperor Constantine, after his conversion to Christianity, commissioned his mother Helen, around 325, to ensure the construction of churches in the Holy Land, to translate clearly and officially the Christian faith as a state religion. Daughter of servants, Helen had been chosen as second wife by Constance Chlore, who repudiated it twenty years later when he became the Roman emperor Caesar. She will be exiled with her son, Constantine. When Constantine became Roman emperor, he made her return to Rome. She will be the initiator of the construction of three basilicas to protect the Holy Places. Eusebius, then bishop of Caesarea and eyewitness to these events, left us the following testimony: Choosing in this country three mystical caves, Constantine adorned them with rich constructions, attributing to the cave of the first apparition of God the veneration which was due to him, honoring in the other on the summits the memory of the last Ascension, exalting in the middle cave the victories of which the Savior crowned his whole struggle. It is easy to recognize the reference, in order, to the churches of Bethlehem, the Mount of Olives and the Holy Sepulcher. This church, then called the Disciples Church, consisted of three levels connected by stairs: a church in the upper part, an atrium and a cave. The oldest text that bears witness to this Eleona Church dates from 384. It was written by the great Spanish pilgrim, Etheria. In her writings, she relates that on the night of Holy Tuesday, the faithful went to the Church of Eleona, which covered the cave where the Lord used to instruct his disciples; there, standing before the faithful, the bishop read Jesus' speech on the events of the end. However, the Persians of Chosroes destroyed this church in 614, like most of the Christian churches in Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of Christians were massacred in the city and more than a thousand Christians were massacred on the Mount of Olives. Despite some summary repairs, such as those made under Charlemagne who, then had the protection of the Holy Places to, among other things, found religious [institutions, the Church will remain in ruins.
- Tel Arad is an archaeological site located on the Eastern part of the Negev, approximately 10 Km west from the modern city of Arad. The Tel lies in the northern border of the Arad-Beer Sheba Valley, and its height is 576m above sea-level. The Tel interface with the Judea Desert on the east and with the Judea Mountains on the north. Arad is located on a crossroads that its importance is admired since the Chalcolithic period till modern days. It connects the Judea mountains area (Jerusalem and Hebron) with the Dead Sea. The name Arad was preserved among the local settlers from ancient times till these days. Tel Arad has a great Ecological importance as a result from its location on the main watershed line (between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean) of Israel. On the one hand the Tze'elim Stream, one of the biggest streams that flows into Dead Sea, drains the entire area of the South East of Hebron Mountains. On the other hand, just beneath Tel Arad, flows the Beer-Sheba stream that flows to the Mediterranean. These river-beds create an important crossroads of the wide Ecological systems movement as well as a human crossroads. Due to that and its location as the border between dry desert and a populated land, Tel Arad is known with its special endemic species of vegetation and animals. The first human settlement on Tel Arad is dated to the Chalcolithic period, around the 4 th thousand B.C.E. the settlement had rural character and it was a part of a branched and complicated settlement system on the Northern Negev in that period. Around 3500 B.C.E the village disappears, along with other settlements around it. Due to lack of written historical sources, the cause of Tel Arad's abandon remains unknown. For 300 hundred years the site was abandoned, and only in 3200 B.C.E (Early Bronze Age I) it was reestablished on top of the Chalcolithic site's ruins. In Similar to the Chalcolithic period, Tel Arad during the Early Bronze Age I belonged to a wider settlement system around the Negev, based mainly on agriculture and livestock breeding. In this period, a commercial relation between Arad and Egypt as well as Sinai Peninsula. Arad is 400 Km far from Sinai Peninsula, and the commercial goods were transmitted through the coastline through the Ancient world international High- way Via Maris.
- One of the most original attraction in Akko is the Tunisian Or Torah Synagogue or "Jariva". This Synagogue is completely covered in mosaics, on the wall, floor and many stained-glass windows. All of the mosaics were created in Kibbutz Eilon from millions of natural stones. We can find not far from this places the Church of St. Andreas, Khan al-Umdan or St. George Church (Acre).
- The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan, or the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, is a museum complex located in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It was the Green Palace of the eighth Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, who has later proclaimed Bogd Khan, or ruler of Mongolia. Alongside being the oldest museum, it is also considered one of the most significant collections in Mongolia. The palace is the only one left from the original four residences of the Bogd Khan. Painted stone lion guarding one of the halls. Built between 1893 and 1903, the complex is one of the few Mongolianhistorical attractions which the Soviets or the Communist forces have neither destroyed.
- We are close to the center of Shenyang, the largest city in North-East China. Adjacent to some 8 million people's modern industrial city lies the magnificent Mukden Palace, alternatively known as The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty. The Palace is extensive in area and comprises 114 buildings divided into three sections - Eastern, Central, and Western. The Eastern section was constructed first, and work started in 1625 during the reign of Emperor Taizu. The last part of the construction was completed in 1783. In 2004 Mukden Place was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an extension of the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing - also known as the Forbidden City. In fact, the Palace was built to resemble the Forbidden City, but with hints of Manchu and Tibetan influences. After the Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming Dynasty in 1644, the Mukden Palace lost its short tenure as the permanent official residence of the Emperor and instead became a regional palace. In the year 1780 Hongli, the Qianlong Emperor added further extensions to the Palace, and successive Qing Emperors usually stayed at Mukden Palace for a portion of each year. In the mid-nineteen fifties, the Mukden palace was converted into a museum and began to receive local visitors. Since the opening-up of China, it has become an international cultural attraction.
- If there were not several torrential downpours in 1992 and some strong storms in 1995, the Nahal Taninim Nature Reserve in Israel as we we know it today would not simply exist. But fortunately for us nature lovers, the water flowing in the sea near kibbutz Ma'agan Michael and Zichron Ya'akov was flooding every time the road from Tel Aviv to Haifa. It was time to act! sparkling stream - last remnant of coastal waterways in the region A dam from the late Byzantine era creating a lake. The ancient inhabitants of the region built the dam to raise 3 meters above sea level Taninim Creek. So he will be channeled to Caesarea. 3- Another dam, about 2 kilometers north of the reserve, blocks the valley by the north. A lake formed in the Kebara Valley between dams and Mount Carmel, which became the starting point of the Caesarea aqueduct. The abundance of water in the construction of flour mills running to water in the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The stream was named Taninim - Hebrew for crocodiles - because these reptiles inhabited the swamps of Kebara nearby until the beginning of 20th century. 3- Unfinished aqueduct Allow yourself several hours to explore the historic sites, in you stopping to rest in the shade of the trees, and sitting down near the glorious Taninim River. At the beginning of the circular road through the reserve, there is a long narrow canal called "unfinished aqueduct". The Romans had no problem cutting it because they had many slaves and soldiers. But why they did it remains a mystery, This part does not go anywhere.
- Located in the center of Tunisia, between the mountains and the sea, here we are at Kairouan where we will discover the Great Mosque, considered the fourth holiest site in Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The Great Mosque of Kairouan was a public structure, set along roads that served a city with a vibrant commercial, educational, and religious life.
- Holy Places TV takes you to Jaffa; called for centuries, the gateway to the Holy Land, visit the Church of St. Peter. According to legend, the city would bear the name of Japheth, the third son of Noah, who built it after the Flood. For other Jaffa or Yafo in Hebrew, would come from the word « Yofi » which means beauty and « Yaffa » name Israeli female, which means beautiful.