We start the morning by visiting Mt of Olives for panoramic view of Jerusalem, then visit the Church of Ascension – which commemorates the assents of Jesus to heaven; the Paternoster church, according to tradition, lye’s the cave where Jesus brought his disciples and spoke to them about the mystery of the end. Continue to Dominos Flavit where Jesus wept over eminent destruction of Jerusalem. The chapels are built in the shape of a tear as a poignant reminder of this event. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed while Judah betrayed him to the Romans. Visit the basilica of agony.
Further we will go to the pools of Beit Hesda, where Jesus held the crippled man. And from there we take the Via Dolorosa (Way of Grief), traditionally accepted as the last route trodden by Jesus. Follow the 14 Stations of the Cross to Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified marking significant events along the route. You All see the Pilate’s Judgments Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation where, according to tradition, the Roman soldiers scourged Jesus and placed a crown of thorns on His head the Ecce Homo Arch. Early tradition held that Pontius Pilate stood here and thundered “Ecce Homo!” Which means “Behold the man” Which is what Pilate said when he presented Jesus to the crowd. However, we now know that pagan Emperor Hadrian constructed the arch. Below the Convent are the Lithotrities where Jesus was publicly tried and where the Roman soldiers mocked him. The last 5 Stations of the Cross are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher visible from the distance, wish is two silver domes. Also “The Tomb” widely believed to be part of the stone that covered Jesus Tomb. Then we go through the Jewish quarter to the Wailing Wall, which is the holiest place for the Jewish religion. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
