Gethsemane — Attraction in Jerusalem

ethsemane (/ɡɛθˈsɛməni/)[1] is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where, according to the four Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus Christ underwent the agony in the garden and was arrested before his crucifixion. It is a place of great resonance in Christianity. There are several small olive groves in church property, all adjacent to each other and identified with biblical Gethsemane.

According to the New Testament it was a place that Jesus and his disciples customarily visited, which allowed Judas Iscariot to find him on the night Jesus was arrested.

There are four locations,all of them at or near the western foot of the Mount of Olives, officially claimed by different denominations to be the place where Jesus prayed on the night he was betrayed.

A study conducted by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) in 2012 found that three of the olive trees in the garden are amongst the oldest known to science.Dates of AD 1092, 1166 and 1198 were obtained by carbon dating from older parts of the trunks of three trees.DNA tests show that the trees were originally planted from the same parent plant.This could indicate an attempt to keep the lineage of an older individual intact.Possibly, the three trees tested could have been sprouts reviving from the older roots. According to the researchers, "The results of tests on trees in the Garden of Gethsemane have not settled the question of whether the gnarled trees are the very same which sheltered Jesus because olive trees can grow back from roots after...

Astonishing area rich with history and contemplation. I could really feel the depth of the Holy Spirit here as I was reminded of the agony that Jesus, my Savior, took upon Himself so that I could be made wholly attuned to my Father's purposes for my life. Gethsemane literally means pressing. It is the place where they would take a HUGE stone and press out the olives for the oil for lamps, for anointing, for cooking, and I am sure for many other purposes. In that place, with the purposes of the Father pressing down on Jesus, the Bible says that He literally was sweating drops of blood. Doctors call this condition hematidrosis; a condition that is caused by extreme fear and or stress, and in most individuals a "fight or flight" response. Jesus' experience was wholly different, however. He did not devise a plan to exonerate Himself from His attackers; He didn't devise a plan to "take them all out" and He had no intention of attempting to escape the band of marauders that He knew were coming to carry Him to His execution. Instead, He stared impending doom straight in the face and told the Father, "Not my will, but Thine be done".

In my own life right now, I have many situations in which others would find the fight or flight response to be completely appropriate. However, deep in my soul, I feel the unction of the Holy Spirit to follow my Lord in His Walk and His Word and to declare to the Father, "Not my will, but...

The Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, is one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. It is revered as the place where Jesus prayed in anguish the night before his crucifixion, making it deeply significant for pilgrims and visitors alike. The name “Gethsemane” comes from the Aramaic word meaning “olive press,” and fittingly, the garden is filled with ancient olive trees—some believed to be over 2,000 years old. Adjacent to the garden is the Church of All Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony, which houses the rock traditionally regarded as the spot where Jesus knelt in prayer. The site exudes a peaceful, solemn atmosphere that invites reflection and reverence.

Entry to the Garden of Gethsemane is free of charge, making it accessible to all visitors. It is open daily, typically from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM during the summer (April to September) and until 5:00 PM in the winter (October to March), with a lunch closure between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Visitors usually spend about 30 minutes at the site, though guided tours can extend the experience. Wait times to enter are generally minimal, but the garden can become crowded, especially during peak pilgrimage seasons, so visiting early in the morning or later in the afternoon is recommended for a quieter experience. The site is accessible by foot, taxi, or public transportation from Jerusalem’s Old City, although parking can be...