At the outset of this adventure, I compiled a list of must-visit sites to see before the end. I've done a pretty thorough job of hunting down the big ones, but a few minor ones have eluded my attention until recently. The last week and a half has been primarily dedicated to tracking some of these things down.
This little wooden graffiti has more significance than you'd think. It's carved into the door of what once was a hostel for pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. While some might argue that it says "AYDE", Latter-day Saints like to think that it says "HYDE". Orson Hyde came to Jerusalem in 1841 to dedicate the land of Israel for the gathering of the Jews, and it's a definite possibility that he may have stayed in this hostel during his time in the region. A very nice Franciscan monk from Argentina let us back into the residential quarters of the monastery to see it.
This isn't a great shot of the room, but where I'm standing is one of the traditional sites of the 'Upper Room' in which Jesus had the Last Supper with his apostles, where he appeared to them after his resurrection, and where the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost occurred. A very kind nun at the site introduced us to it and even sang a little bit in Aramaic (the language Jesus and his contemporary Jews would have spoken). Here, Brother Harper gave a powerful devotional about the central role the sacrament plays in our covenant to take upon us the name of Christ and always remember him.
These ruins were actually discovered as workers were digging the foundations for a Russian embassy. They decided to move the embassy somewhere else and build a Russian Orthodox church to honor and preserve the ruins, including an arch through which (the pious believe) Jesus walked on his path to crucifixion. Of more interest to me was this side gate: apparently when the main gate here was closed for the night, travelers would use this smaller gate to enter the city. Some regard it as the "Eye of the Needle", calling to mind Jesus's saying that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
My apologies for the size, but this is just too cool to pass up. This is the dome of the Greek Orthodox Catholicon in the Church of the Holy Sepluchre. The central feature is the depiction of Jesus known in Orthodox iconography as Christ Pantocrator (literally "Christ, Lord of All). In each corner are each of the evangelists, and surrounding Christ in the dome are various saints and angels. The picture that follows is me directly under the center of that dome. I'm touching the omphalos, which was (and by some, is) considered by Orthodox Christians to be the center of the world.
In the heart of the Jewish quarter is a synagogue known as the Hurva, or "Ruins" synagogue. It had been destroyed twice before it was finally reconstructed and dedicated in 2012. Pictured here is the holy ark, where the Torah is stored, and the central stand where the rabbi reads the Torah during services.
Just another shot of the Dome of the Rock. You have no idea how much I want to go inside here, but the security guys just smile and shake their fingers at me every time I attempt it.
This is the al-Aqsa mosque, which is the other prominent feature on the Haram el-Sharif (aka Temple Mount). It commemorates Abraham's attempted offering of Ishmael.
This dome marks the site where Solomon gave the dedicatory prayer over the first temple, and where Jesus taught in the temple court.
The Golden Gate of the Temple Mount. There used to be a bridge here that spanned the Kidron Valley and reached the Mount of Olives.
And the Jerusalem YMCA tower! This very upscale center is a landmark in West Jerusalem (it was designed by the architect of the Empire State building) and a popular spot for BYU students, because one of our senior service couples, the Squires, play the carillon bells here every week! We went with them this week to serenade the city with our bell-playing skills.
With my limited piano abilities, I was only able to pull off Hot Cross Buns, or something like that, but it was fun anyways. We each got to play one of the dongs when the clock struck noon.
...And stay for a Galilee update in the near(ish) future!
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