It would be hard to mention Jerusalem to anyone and not have them know what you are talking about. It is after all one of the oldest cities in the world. Located in the Middle East, Jerusalem rests on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean and Dead Sea. It’s not just the age of the city that makes it memorable however. It is also considered to be the most important city in the world for those of the Christian faith.
The reason why Jerusalem is so important to Christians is simple. Cana Creative Travel and Tours’ owner Freweini Belai Ghile put it best. “Jerusalem is the place where Jesus Christ died and was raised from the dead on the third day,” she said. “Resurrection in Christianity is the central and basic event, the core of Christian belief without which Christianity doesn’t exist and religion loses its essence. Therefore, through the Resurrection, Jerusalem became the core of the Christian faith and religion. Indeed, it is the birthplace of Christianity and out of it Christianity was spread to the whole world by the Apostles and disciples.”
It’s because of that that millions of people travel to Jerusalem each year. Pilgrims come to see the places where Jesus preached, died and was resurrected. While the mazes of narrow alleyways, classic architecture, historical sites such as the Tower of David and the stone wall that surrounds the city are attractions in themselves, Christians come to see other sites that bear religious significance to them. Places such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains two of the holiest sites in Christianity. Golgotha, the site where Jesus was crucified, and his empty tomb where he was buried and resurrected. The church was constructed in the 4th century, and within it are the last four Stations of the Cross on the Way of Sorrow (also known as Via Dolorosa) which represent the final episodes of the Passion of Jesus. The church is one of the main destinations for pilgrims going to Jerusalem.
Walking along the Via Dolorosa through all 14 Stations of the Cross is also a highlight of a visit to Jerusalem. Many Christians like to follow in the footsteps of Jesus by taking the route he walked as he bore the cross on his shoulders towards his execution. Many choose to walk the route independently, but on Fridays they can follow behind Italian Franciscan monks. The route itself is marked, based on the Gospels’ and tradition. As you walk from the Muslim Quarter in the Old City on Via Dolorosa Street to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, you will pass by plenty of beautiful buildings, including the Chapel of the Flagellation which is where Jesus was believed to have been flogged.
The Christian Quarter of the Old City is centered around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There are plenty of other churches to explore in the area though. There is the Protestant Christ Church, the Ethiopian Monastery which contains interesting murals depicting the Queen of Sheba’s Jerusalem visit, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (where many climb the bell tower to get an incredible view of the Old City) and the Church of St. John the Baptist (which is the oldest church in the city.)
Those who climb the ascent to the Mount of Olives are rewarded with an amazing panoramic view of the city. It’s just not the views that attract them however. They also come to visit the many churches and the oldest continually used cemetery in the world. Christians also believe that the sacred hill is where God will begin raising the dead on Judgement Day. This is because it is believed to be the spot where Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection. Pilgrims can also find the Tomb of the Virgin Mary on the hill.
The Monastery of the Cross attracts many pilgrims as well. This is because it is believed to be located on the site where the Prophet Lot lived. He planted many trees in the area, one of which is said to have provided wood for the cross that Jesus was crucified on.
“Visiting, touching, and feeling the place where Christ had been tortured, crossed, died and buried and on the third day raised to sky, made them to be spirituality elevated and hence their belief,” Freweini said about why Christians want to visit Jerusalem. There’s no better time to start planning a trip to the Holy Land. Celebrating Easter there is perhaps one the most spiritual things any Christian can do.