The weather here in Jerusalem is wonderful for the Pilgrims who have left the cold weather in England in order to all follow in the steps of our Lord. Sadly 24 degrees centigrade, which is wonderful for those of us who have been wishing for some sun, is caused by global warning. But our guide Bashir says that there has been some good rain this year too, which he can tell by the fact that the almond trees are in blossom, so as yet the situation is not terrible but things have been going this way for a number of years now and so it is something of a worry.
It was a busy first day in Jerusalem for the Pilgrims as they boarded their buses at 8am and fought through the traffic jams caused by the amount of roadworks on the already busy streets to the Mount of Olives. As we walked we saw the Jewish graves all lined along the Mount of Olives as it is prized to be buried near the Temple. We saw the beautiful Dome of the Rock built on the site where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son, Issac, as God had commanded.
Walking down we saw the Teardrop church, Barluzzi’s Dominus Flevit, which means The Lord Wept, which is built on the site where Jesus sat and wept over Jerusalem. Then to the Garden of Gethsemane where we imagined Jesus and his disciples sitting and talking as well as the night when Jesus went to pray and the Disciples slept, just prior to his arrest. The beautiful All Nations Church is built there and it is wonderful to go inside to the dark space and see the mosaics all around. Then going further down the hill to reach the coaches the Pilgrims saw the wonderful facade of the church – a time for a photo call and to be careful not to get into the road trying to get the whole church in!
The coaches take us to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. The walls of the courtyard are lined with the words of the Benedictus in many languages, which we said together. Then into the Church dedicated to John the Baptist with its wonderful cross and cave, where John the Baptist is supposed to have been born. As was the case in the last Pilgrimage the church is scaffolded inside and in need of renovation but that somehow didn’t stop it feeling special and holy. It will be great to see it when it is finished and fully open again. Lunch followed at the Convent of the Sisters of Sion, which gave us a great chance to wander around and sit in the beautiful sculpted gardens before sitting down to a lovely meal.
Back on the coach again we went to Abu Ghosh, one of possible sites of the Road to Emmaus and to the Crusader church there where Bishop Paul celebrated the Mass.
Back on the coach for a rest, followed by dinner, our after dinner meeting and early nights as we prepare for Day Three, walking the Via Dolorosa through the Old City and so much more. We expect to be even more tired tomorrow.
Philip and Mandi Sturrock are first time Pilgrims to the Holy Land and they write:
‘We always knew that coming to Jerusalem was going to be special, but that’s the spiritual side. Let us give you a flavour of the city: crowded, dry and dusty, noisy, dirty, but with that unique character which tells you that you are in a place of special emotional power. And it didn’t take long to find it.
The path down from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem is now walled but it must follow the same route as Our Lord did that first Palm Sunday. Mind blowing: not just to follow in His steps but to be treading the same earth.
The Garden of Gethsemane is as old as its olive trees. They were being pruned while we were there and many of us treasured twigs and cuttings which will grace our mantel shelves – or gardens if we’re lucky.
The Convent of Our Lady of Zion, outside the city on Mount Zion, was a haven of peace where we all shared time with each other, as well as a delicious lunch. And then we were ‘on the road to Emmaus’ (well, possibly, probably) where we were able to share a time in communion with each other in the beautiful Crusader church at Abu Ghosh.
There wasn’t much communion of any kind on the coach home as 70 odd pilgrims snoozed peacefully, no doubt dreaming of their special moments – or maybe what was on the menu for dinner! At dinner too we drank some local wine from autochthonous grapes. That’s a new word for us: we thought it was an early church heresy but it was an acceptable wine variety. Think Cana or the last supper!’
