If you are a believer in God there might not be a better area in the entire world to visit than Jerusalem.
Ah, Jerusalem. The Holy Land. What better place to renew your faith and discover the roots of mankind. The number of religious sites throughout Israel is limitless, and Jerusalem is not an exception. Jews, Christians and Muslims all share in the importance of the city for their respective religions and even share some of the exact same locations as revered holy sites. From Jesus to Mohammed to Abraham, virtually every major player in the world's three most popular religions trekked over Jerusalem's terrain. For believers of all three religions, Jerusalem marks the area of the world's most sacred places.
The Western or "Wailing" Wall serves as the only remnant of the Second Jewish Temple, which was originally built by King Solomon and then destroyed for a second time by the Romans in 70 AD. Jews believe the continued existence of the Wall symbolizes God's covenant with them, meaning that He will never destroy their race. For the past 2000 years, Jews have flocked to pray at this most sacred site. Sacred, because God's presence is believed to be in this place at all times. For centuries, Jews have shed tears on the Wall, pleading with God to restore His people while mourning the destruction of the Temple. Be aware that men and women are not allowed to pray together at the Wall. Be mindful that you do not trespass into the area occupied by the opposite sex or you will create quite an embarrassing stir.
The entire space, not just the location of the Western Wall, the ancient Temple occupied is commonly known today as the Temple Mount. Known as the "holy of holies", the Temple Mount reigns as the absolute most sacred site in Judaism. Many believe it was on this site that Abraham brought his son, Isaac to be sacrificed to the Lord. King Solomon constructed the Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, but with the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians around 600 BC the Covenant vanished. The Temple was rebuilt a second time only to be destroyed again just decades after Jesus' death.
Muslims revere The Temple Mount almost as much as Jews. The prophet Mohammed purportedly ascended into heaven from this same location around the year 687 AD. Shortly after Mohammed's death, his followers constructed The Dome of the Rock on the site of the Temple Mount. While the original dome consisted of gold, today the dome is made out of aluminum. With its brilliant shine, marble columns and colorful mosaic tiles, The Dome of The Rock definitely can be referred to as one of the most aesthetically appealing monuments throughout the Middle East.
Facing the Temple Mount lays the Mount of Olives. Again, this location serves as a holy place for more than one of the world's major religions. For Jews, the spot marks the location of the raising of the dead on Judgment Day when their Messiah comes to earth. The Mount of Olives has thus become quite a popular place for Jews to be buried. Jews pay thousands of dollars to have their bodies flow to the site for burial. For many Christians, the Mount of Olives serves as the location of Jesus' ascension into heaven. Christians also believe their Messiah, Jesus Christ, will return to earth to judge the living and the dead on the Mount of Olives.
The Via Dolorosa marks some of the most hallowed ground for Christians throughout the world. Widely considered the path Jesus took on His way to be crucified, the narrow road begins in the location where Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate and ends at the present day Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Especially when one has viewed the film "The Passion of the Christ", Christians can now visualize quite easily what took place every step of the way when walking down this path. The experience is quite sobering and emotional to say the least. Christian visitors to Jerusalem must not miss out on taking this walk for themselves.
As for the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the location is commonly regarded as the site of Christ's crucifixion and burial, although the burial site remains in question. The church was originally built by Emperor Constantine's mother in the year 335 AD but has lived through numerous remodeling jobs throughout the centuries due to damage from natural disasters and lootings. While the name gives the impression there is only one church, the building actually consists of 36 different churches run by various nationalities and denominations, including the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox, and the Roman Catholics. One chapel inside the church, controlled by the Greek Orthodox, marks the presumed spot of the crucifixion. The dreary, dark atmosphere throughout the site compliments such a tragic death quite well.
Sometime in the nineteenth century, a new location was discovered that put Jesus' burial site in doubt. Located near an area that could fit the description of the "hill of the skull" mentioned in the New Testament, what is now called the "Garden Tomb" rests in a corner of this hill. In this cavern lies a grave which could have been Jesus' resting place. However, many archeologist insist the tomb is older than New Testament times and the Gospels lead us to believe Jesus' tomb was new. To even the casual observer, one can certainly discern what looks like a face, or skull, in the hill's rocky formation. However, no evidence exists that the rocks formed the same shape 2,000 years ago. So, like many religious sites, the locale of Christ's resting place may create eternal dispute among believers and scientists alike.
The entire nation of Israel is a believer's paradise. The city of Jerusalem takes the cake, however, as the ultimate treasure of spiritual geography. For Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, the town plays host to the most important sites in each of the world's major religions. You don't even have to believe in a deity to appreciate the beautiful landscape and the way people continue to live as they did in ancient times. If you are a believer, however, there might not be a better area in the entire world to visit than Jerusalem. This really is the "Holy Land" and you will never tire of visiting history's holiest places.
