Jerusalem Day 2

THE TOWER OF  DAVID

We entered the Old City from the west, via the Jaffa Gate. The Tower of David, also known as the Jerusalem Citadel, is an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa Gate. The Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem was opened in 1989. Located in a series of chambers in the original citadel, the museum includes a courtyard which contains archaeological ruins dating back 2,700 years.

The foundation stones for this tower were laid during the rein of King Herod.

View of archaeological finds in the courtyard of the Tower of David Museum, and the Ottoman minaret.

View of the Old City from the top of the Tower of David.

Church of the Redeemer Lutheran Church is in the Christian Quarter of the Old City.

Dome of the Rock. This is said to be the site where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

 

VIA DOLOROSA

We boarded the bus again and drove around the Old City to the east side to Lion's Gate. The Way of the Cross is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. The Via Dolorosa is not one street, but a route consisting of segments of several streets. The route ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is said to be built over the site where Our Lord was crucified, buried and rose again.

We entered Lion's Gate.

Street vendor selling fresh bagels and bread.

 

BASILIQUE ST. ANNE

This church is said to be at the location where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was born.

The Church was built in 1131 AD.

The Main Altar.

An excavation outside the Basilique St. Anne. The ruins of the Byzantine Church, adjacent to the site of the Pool of Bethesda. The Pool of Bethesda was a pool in Jerusalem known from the New Testament story of Jesus miraculously healing a paralyzed man, from the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John.

 

THE CHURCH OF FLAGELLATION

According to tradition, the church enshrines the place where Jesus Christ was flogged by Roman soldiers before his journey down the Via Dolorosa to Calvary.

Church of Flagellation

"Crown of Thorns" mosaic on altar dome.

The Via Dolorosa walkway is narrow, congested and bordered by shops and street vendors.

 

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

The church contains, according to traditions dating back to at least the fourth century, the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified, at a place known as Calvary or Golgotha, and Jesus' empty tomb.

Outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The altar is said to be built over the place where Jesus was crucified. The rock can be viewed through the glass floor of the altar.

The Aedicule is at the location where Jesus may have been entombed before He arose on the third day.

 

 

Dormition Abbey by Zion Gate

A church built over the site of the Upper Room.

We departed the Old City via Zion Gate where the bus was waiting to pick us up.

 

 

CHANGE OF PLANS

From here our time in Jerusalem took an unexpected path. Very early on the third day of our planned Jerusalem tour, Kurt developed extreme food poisoning and was taken to the Shaare Zedek Hospital by ambulance that afternoon. During our 22 hour stay at the hospital, our tour group moved on to Cairo, Egypt, without us. We stayed in Jerusalem two extra nights while Kurt regained functionality. We were able to catch up with our tour group in Cairo. Consequently, we spent one night in Cairo rather than three nights as planned.