It took a little while to go off to sleep last night - we're in Jerusalem! Woke to an alternative alarm at 4.30am - the nearby mosque's call to prayer.
A few of us met in the lobby at 5.30am to walk to the Old City to see it without the crowds - early morning bread delivery hanging from a door handle, a roadside breadseller setting up, small groups carrying crosses through the Stations of the Cross. Then precious time spent in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Bethlehem - House of Bread - a desert area. We visited the Church of the Nativity (oldest intact church) which was not destroyed because the Persians saw the Persian-looking Magi there (in a painting?). Entered bending the knee through the low door of humility. Carefully descended 14 steep stone stairs into the grotto where Jesus was born, marked by a silver star. We sang "Away in a Manger" there. Very memorable.
A very short drive to the Shepherds' Fields - visited the cave which was far less elaborately decorated which made it a lot easier to imagine caves in Jesus' day. We sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Also went into the modest Franciscan church which had 3 beautiful frescos, domed roof & acoustics which aided our singing of a few more carols - beautiful!
Then nearby Herodium - multistorey palace/fortress of Herod 'the Great' - a manmade mountain. A safe, quiet place for Herod to go to, away from busy Jerusalem & where he planned his final resting place.
Back in Jerusalem, we stopped for lunch at "The First Station", an old unused Ottoman railway station transformed into a lovely marketplace with eateries & small shops.
Lastly, the Mount of Olives and the Paternoster Church, comemmorating Jesus' ascention, where The Lord's Prayer is displayed in 70 languages. We shortly heard thunder & it started spitting so we took shelter in the grotto in front of the church. There we said The Lord's Prayer together before wandering around to find the English version. Most of us then headed back to the Hotel as it was too wet to proceed down the Palm Sunday route - although four intrepid travellers braved the rain and walked the Palm Sunday road. We then had much appreciated time to relax & reflect before dinner.
... Yes, a very good day.
Thanks for another wonderful day, Lord.
To God be the glory for the things He has done... is doing... and is going to do. Amen
Peter & Libby Tester
Our group at Manger Square in Bethlehem
Libby and Lavena enter the Church of the Nativity through the low door of humility
The Star in the grotto where it is said that Jesus was born
The Franciscan Church at the Shepherds Fields
One of the frescoes in the church
John "drives" our bus
English version of the Lord's Prayer (among those in 70 languages) at the Paternoster Church on the Mount of Olives
You all must be very busy and exhausted from all your visits to the sites around Jerusalem. I was so pleased to see on Bridgie's instagram a picture of Wendy and others walking through the gardens at St Anne's Church. It is always lovely to see flowers and greenery and happy faces. I'm looking forward to your next blog.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you all and love from Leila