The Holy City of Jerusalem

🍒In the Jewish Talmud, it is written: "God gave the world ten measures of beauty — nine were given to Jerusalem." And the world says in return: "If there are ten measures of sorrow in the world, nine are also in Jerusalem." 🍒Mount of Olives Named for its vast olive groves, the Mount of Olives is mentioned many times in the Bible and is considered a sacred mountain in both Judaism and Christianity. From the observation deck, you can gaze out over the Old City of Jerusalem — its charm and ancient scars laid bare before your eyes. Nearby lies the Jewish cemetery, said to be over 2,000 years old. 🌟Church of All Nations Also known as the Church of Agony, it is located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, next to the Garden of Gethsemane. Built between 1919 and 1924 in Byzantine style, the church features domes, massive columns, and intricate mosaics. It was funded by donations from twelve different countries — hence its common name, the Church of All Nations. The current structure stands on the ruins of two earlier churches: a 12th-century Crusader church (abandoned in 1345) and a 4th-century Byzantine church (destroyed in the 746 earthquake). 🌟Garden of Gethsemane The name "Gethsemane" comes from the Hebrew word meaning "olive press", as this was once a place where olives were crushed for oil. It is the site where Jesus prayed in anguish and where, according to the Bible, he was betrayed by Judas. According to tradition, this site was once the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest where Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice. A small Byzantine chapel was first built here around 457 AD to commemorate the event. It was destroyed by Muslims around 1010, rebuilt by Crusaders in 1102, and finally reconstructed in 1931. The church’s roof is uniquely adorned with a golden rooster, and in the courtyard stands a statue depicting the rooster, a woman, and a Roman soldier — capturing the moment of Peter’s denial. #TravelInIsrael #HolyCityJerusalem #TravelDiary#JerusalemTravel #Israel