The room of the last supper
This place is also called the cenacle of the upper chamber room in which the Eucharist is based on. Seven weeks after the passion the Holy Spirit appeared to the disciple and this was the origin of the Pentecost, which is recorded in the New Testament in the book of acts of the apostle.
Almost every turning in the east Jerusalem reveals some significant site of religious or historical interests.
Central to the pilgrim’s journey is the Via Dolorosa.
Further down to the streets, to the left in the yard of an Arab school, formerly the sight of a fortress is where Jesus started the 1st of the 14th Stations of the Cross. It was also here that Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus, washed his hands of the affair and condemned him. Across the street was were Jesus was stripped of his clothes, whipped and forced to wear the crown of thorns and the robe of royal purple.
Then Pilate declared to the crowd ‘behold the man’ and Jesus started his final journey up the Via Dolorosa.
The Holy Sepulchre
The Holy Sepulchre from my understanding means the ‘sacred tomb’
Several Sects share the Holy Sepulchre church– Greek, orthodox, Roman Catholics, Armenian, Syrian Coptic and Abyssinians. The Church is set on the hill
of Golgotha, literally known as the skull hill. It is called Calvary on the Latin translation and legend has it that Adam’s skull was buried there.
Just inside the entrance is the stone of unction, where Jesus was buried after being taken down from the cross. In the high domed rotunda is the Holy Sepulchre. Every Friday afternoon, there is a procession along the Via Dolorosa to the churches of the Holy Sepulchre. During the holy week, the rites, ceremonies and processional Christian sects sharing the church are particularly colourful and impressive.
N/b note that as pilgrims visit these places of pilgrimages. They go with their bibles in other to associate it or link it with each pilgrim sites they encounter. They pray and ask for special favours, forgiveness and many personal requests and they get closer to god and to one another by sharing the word of God.
…. Moving up to the east of Jerusalem, pilgrims encounter many holy sites of pilgrimages. Like the summit of mount olives and some general site across.
Around the walls of the old city
Just a short walk up Nabulus road from the Damascus gate, there’s a small part on the right hand side leading to the garden tomb. This is thought by some to be the actual tomb of Christ. The two-part rock cave is built on a skull shaped hillock.
The summits of mount olives
The Hebrews knows the Mount of Olives as har hazeytim. But in ancient time, it was known as hameshina, the mount of anointing. This beautiful sacred place was a place of worship during the time of king David. Sacrifices were very much offered here. It is also believed Christ ascended into heaven from here.
A few stops further from here is the church of pater noster (the lord’s prayer). The Lord’s Prayer is set into the tiled walls with 44 different languages.
Some general sites
Over looking lower Galilee are three sites sacred to Christian pilgrims. Nazareth, mount Cana and mount tabor. On the northern shores of the lake facing Tiberius, Christ preached there to the crowds and many miracles happened there. Today, you can see mount beatitudes which, is on the beautiful hilltop, tabha, migdal, and Capernaum.
These places mentioned are some of the basic pilgrimage sites in Jerusalem. These pilgrims don’t go to these places just for vacation but they go with many different and personal reasons and they come back home satisfied with the choice they have made….
