January 3 2010 Old City and Ein Karem
A much longer post was just put in for January 2nd.
I've uploaded some pictures onto previous days. All are from before we got to Jerusalem. I might not be able to get those on until I get to some US power system.
The pictures here are a group shot of the women of our group in Jericho, some of the OLL youth frolicking along the Mediterranean Sea at Ceasarea, Emily Lynch on the boat as we cruised the Sea of Galilee, and the Bussey threesome on the same ship.
Outline of the final day.
January 3 2010 Old City and Ein Karem
We began this Sunday morning with breakfast at the hotel, as is done every day. Those who would be flying out of Tel Aviv late this night had to have everything packed up and ready to go by 7:00, then eat breakfast, identify the luggage for the baggage handlers (unidentified bags are left behind – security concerns) and be on the bus at 8:00.
We took the short drive to the Old City (it can be walked in 15 minutes) and then passed the whole north side to the NE corner. We walked about 50 yards down and entered by the Sheep gate. This is one of several entrances to the Muslim quarter of Old City, which is the largest quarter. Not far inside there is St. Ann’s Church, a structure from the Crusader times. It is a beautifully built stone church with amazing acoustics. There is a seven second reverb – everyone sounds great singing in there. It is built over a number of small chapels, one of which is, by one tradition, the birthplace of Mary. There are other candidates for this event, but a second century document, the Proto-Evangelium of James, which tells of the birth of Mary, places it right near Jerusalem. This building would have been outside the walls of Jerusalem of the time, but very close to it and the temple area. What is definitely historical in the area is the pool of Bethesda, where Jesus cured the man who had been crippled for 38 years. (John 5). It is a massive pool, with the five porticos that the gospel mentions. In the 4th century the Byzantines built a gigantic church over the pool. That was destroyed by the Persians in 614. The Crusader church, the current St. Ann’s, had been made into a mosque for a time, but was granted to the French to be used as a Catholic church in gratitude for some favors granted.
We then walked up the street, avoiding some cars that have crept into the old city, to go to Ecce Homo, i.e. “Behold the Man”. (John 19). This was where Jesus was condemned to death by Pilate, and where the soldiers mocked him. This place is authentic as well. The original stone pavement is some feet below the modern city, but this was Pilate’s Palace. As known as Antonia (named after Mark Anthony) it was once Herod’s palace until he built an even larger one. There we started the way of the cross. People took turns carrying the cross, and we stopped at the stations and either sang or recited a prayer or read scripture. The first nine stations are outside, and the final five are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
As we finish the 9th station, we cross on the roof of part of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Representatives of two Christian religions live in small huts there – Ethiopian Coptics and Abyssinians. Sometimes the Ethopians will read the passage in Acts 7 or 8 about the Ethiopian eunuch who is evangelized by Philip. The gospel book is in the shape of a cross when opened. We didn’t stop for that this day, though. We needed to get in line to see the tomb.
Visiting the tomb is difficult these days. It is a long wait – we were there an hour or so, Calvary
Shopping for a few minutes
Walk through the market
The Roman Cardo
Western Wall
Unable to make it onto the temple mount
Board bus, go to Ahava shop for lunch and shop
Ein Karem
Hotel
Final dinner
Hotel
In morning – Monday -- I got up at 4:00, finished the packing and walked into the Old City, getting to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher by 4:45. There was a Mass in the tomb already, so I went up to Calvary -- only one other person there. Quite, meditative. So unlike yesterday. After some time I returned to the tomb, and in due time got in for a short visit. Then back to Calvary and attended a Mass (in Spanish) there. I was back at the Hotel by 6:15, had breakfast and ready for the van at 6:35. We traveled to the airport -- the seven of us -- and eventually got through all the security. The flight was delayed over two hours because of the security issues in Newark earlier that day. A very long wait, long flight, and then a two + hour delay in Newark, but back home in Vermillion by 2:00 am. Maybe more later.
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