Among the followers of the Christian faith and in general cultural, educated people all over the world, places associated with the life and spiritual and educational activities of Jesus are considered especially revered and of undeniable historical and cultural value.
Garden in Gethsemane
The Garden of Gethsemane is one of these shrines. The very name "Gethsemane" means "press for oilseeds", "oil press". This is an area in Israel near East Jerusalem, located near the Mount of Olives. The Kidron Valley, spreading at its foot, includes the very land where the legendary Garden of Gethsemane once grew. At present, a small fragment with a total area of 47x50 m remains from it.
Bible connection
In those days about which the New Testament tells, the whole valley was called that. The Garden of Gethsemane now adjoins the tomb of the Mother of God. According to the Gospel, it was here that Christ spent his last hours before his arrest. Here he prayed to the Heavenly Father, asking him to take away the heavy cup of suffering from him and at the same time humbly agreeingwith His will and the trials that are prepared for him. The apostles-disciples knew that Jesus loves the Garden of Gethsemane and often retires in it to meditate on his own, take a break from the bustle of the city, and plunge into high communion with God. Therefore, Judas pointed out to the guards this very place where they could find Christ and arrest him without any problems, without unnecessary noise. Modern research has even been able to accurately indicate the corner of the garden where the legendary events took place. It is located among the most ancient olive trees, which are hundreds of years old.
Gethsemane and Christian traditions
In the Bible, many pages are devoted to the story of what Christ did in the Garden of Gethsemane. For believers of all countries of Christian denominations, this place is associated with the Passion of the Lord. Every year, pilgrims flock here from all over the world. This tradition has been going on ever since Jesus was crucified. And in the 14th century, on the site of the constant prayers of Christ, the first small temple was built - from the Byzantine Orthodox Church. The new House of God was erected in the same place a century later, when the previous one was destroyed. In the 17th century, representatives of the Catholic Order of St. Francis (Franciscans) established their supervision over the area. And the corner where Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane was fenced with a high wall from the middle of the 19th century, closing the entrance to it to everyone.
Gethsemane temples
In the Holy Land of Gethsemane, three large churches are currently open and operating,of great Christian significance.
- First of all, this is the so-called Church of All Nations. It belongs to the Franciscans and was built in the first quarter of the 20th century. The main relic of the temple is considered to be a stone on which, according to legend, Christ prayed tearfully before his arrest. The name of the church is due to the fact that for its construction donations were collected from the believers of many European states and citizens of Canada. There is an altar in front of the church. Attractions of the temple - mosaic paintings on the theme of the last days of Jesus.
- Near the tomb where the Mother of God is buried, the Church of the Assumption was built. There are also places of last rest for the parents of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. It was erected in the 12th century by St. Elena. The temple belongs to the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem and the Armenian Orthodox denomination.
- And another Orthodox shrine, this time Russian, is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, built by Emperor Alexander III in the second half of the 19th century. It is decorated with icons of the famous artist Vereshchagin. The temple is crowned with traditional Russian architecture domes with crosses. There is a nunnery at the temple.
As you can see, shrines remain shrines for people at all times.
