The holy land 2015

ISRAEL AND JORDAN: MARCH 16TH TO MARCH 29TH

The Holy Land 2015

Arrival

We arrived in Tel Aviv, after a long flight that began in Baton Rouge, then took us to Atlanta and NYC for an overnight flight. After landing we boarded a bus to Caesarea, where we spent the night. Caesarea was named for Augustus Caesar. St. Paul was imprisoned here. Caesarea was a Roman port city and the aqueducts are 2000 years old. They supplied this important city with water.

Click icon to add pictureTom & Robin underneath one of the many arches of the aquaduct.

The body of water seen in the following slide is the Mediterranean Sea.

Armageddon Valley

Click icon to add pictureRoadside chapel on the road to Meggido.

MeggidoMeggido is one of the oldest cities in the region, dating back to 4000 b.c. It’s also called Armageddon. In “Revelations” this is where the forces of Good and Evil do battle.

This staircase is reputed to have been used by King Solomon.

Click icon to add pictureRobin & Tom

“driving” a

sculptured

chariot at

Meggido, where

Roman races

took place.

Site of the Sermon on the Mount

Dan

TEL DAN NATURE RESERVETHIS IS WHERE THE JORDAN RIVER

BEGINS. IT FLOWS INTO THE SEA OF GALILEE

Headwaters of the Jordan River

Click icon to add pictureThe ancient Wall of the Tel Dan nature reserve, which dates to 1500 b.c.

Caesarea Philippi

Situated 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and at the base of Mt. Hermon, Caesarea Philippi is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River.

Caesarea Philippi

Click icon to add pictureGrotto of Pan

The spring emerged from the large cave which became the center of pagan worship. Beginning in the 3rd century B.C., sacrifices were cast into the cave as offerings to the god Pan.

It’s here that Jesus reportedly gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Click icon to add pictureThis fish, a tilapia, is known as St. Peter’s Fish. It was delicious.

The Sea of Galilee

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The Sea of Galilee is

actually a fresh

water lake.

Baptism in the Jordan River

T H I S WA S A M OR NI NG C E R E MO N Y I N T H E JO R D A N R I V E R . T H R E E M E M B E R S OF O U R

G R OU P C H OS E T O B E (R E - ) B A P T I ZE D BY O U R G R OU P L E A D E R D R . WAY N E B A R NE S, A R E TI R E D B A P TI S T M I N I S TE R , W H O I S A L S O T H E O W N E R OF T H E T OU R A G E N C Y W E U S E D. H E ’ S B E E N TO

T H E H O LY L A N D M O R E T H A N 4 0 T I M E S.

Click icon to add pictureStephanie, Tim, and Bonnie before their baptism.

.

Beth Shan

B E T H S H A N I S A C I T Y I N T H E N O R T H D I S T R I C T O F I S R A E L W H I C H H A S P L A Y E D H I S T O R I C A L L Y A N I M P O R T A N T R O L E

D U E T O I T S G E O G R A P H I C A L L O C A T I O N, A T T H E J U N C T I O N O F T H E J O R D A N R I V E R VA L L E Y A N D T H E J E Z R E E L VA L L E Y. I T

H A S A L S O P L A Y E D A N I M P O R T A N T R O L E I N M O D E R N T I M E S , A C T I N G A S T H E R E G I O N A L C E N T E R O F T H E V I L L A G E S I N T H E

B E I T S H E ' A N VA L L E Y.

T H E A N C I E N T C I T Y R U I N S A R E N O W P R O T E C T E D W I T H I N A N A T I O N A L PA R K , K N O W N A S B E T S H E ' A N N A T I O N A L PA R K .

Click icon to add pictureBeth Shan was a Greek/Roman city, located 17 miles south of the Sea of Galilee.

Excavations were conducted between 1921 and 1933 by the University of Pennsylvania. At that time, almost the entire top five levels on the summit were cleared. The main finds include a series of temples from the Middle and Late Bronze Ages.

This mosaic floor dates to the 4th c B.C. and was located on the central walkway along with many others.

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Jericho

J E R I C H O, W H I C H I S A L S O C A L L E D “ T H E C I T Y O F PA L M S ” , WA S O C C U P I E D B Y J O R D A N F R O M 1 9 4 9 T O 1 9 6 7 , A N D H A S

B E E N H E L D U N D E R I S R A E L I O C C U PAT I O N S I N C E 1 9 6 7 ; A D M I N I S T R AT I V E C O N T R O L WA S H A N D E D O V E R T O T H E

PA L E S T I N I A N A U T H O R I T Y I N 1 9 9 4 . I T I S B E L I E V E D T O B E O N E O F T H E O L D E S T I N H A B I T E D C I T I E S I N T H E W O R L D .

T H E O L D E S T H U M A N S T R E E T I S S A I D T O B E L O C AT E D H E R E AT 1 0 , 0 0 0 Y E A R S O L D

The World’s Oldest BuildingThis building dates to 8000 B.C. – which makes it roughly 10,000 years old!

Jordan Valley

Click icon to add pictureThis is a picture of the Judean Desert.

St. George Greek Monastery

S T . G E O R G E ' S M O N A S T E R Y B E G A N I N T H E F O U R T H C E N T U R Y W I T H A F E W M O N K S W H O S O U G H T T H E D E S E R T E X P E R I E N C E S O F T H E P R O P H E T S . T H I S M O N A S T E R Y I S O N T H E E A S T E R N W E S T B A N K . T H E S I X T H - C E N T U R Y C L I F F -H A N G I N G C O M P L E X , W I T H I T S A N C I E N T C H A P E L A N D G A R D E N S , I S A C T I V E

A N D I N H A B I T E D B Y G R E E K O R T H O D O X M O N K S . I T I S R E A C H E D B Y A P E D E S T R I A N B R I D G E A C R O S S T H E W A D I Q E LT , W H I C H M A N Y I M A G I N E T O

B E P S A L M 2 3 ' S V A L L E Y O F T H E S H A D O W O F D E A T H . T H E V A L L E Y P A R A L L E L S T H E O L D R O M A N R O A D T O J E R I C H O , T H E B A C K D R O P F O R T H E

P A R A B L E O F T H E G O O D S A M A R I T A N ( L U K E 1 0 : 2 9 - 3 7 ) . T H E M O N A S T E R Y I S O P E N T O P I L G R I M S A N D V I S I T O R S . U N F O R T U N A T E LY W E D I D N ’ T H A V E

T I M E T O G O T H E R E O U R S E L V E S .

Click icon to add pictureThis was a private home close to our hotel.

The Damascus Gate in Jerusalem

This gate into the Old City of Jerusalem is the most famous and most ornate of the seven gates into the ancient part of the city, which houses Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike.

This is our tour group overlooking the center of Jerusalem.

Bethlehem

From our base in Jerusalem we took an afternoon excursion to the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Bethlehem is 3000 years old, dating back to 1000 b.c. It’s located in the Palestinian Territory. The next six slides show parts of the interior of the Church of the Nativity, which is Greek Orthodox and Christian Armenian. This is the oldest Christian church in the world.

Mosaic Floor in the Church of the Nativity

Masada

M A S A D A I S A N A N C I E N T F O R T I F I C AT I O N S I T U AT E D O N T O P O F A N I S O L AT E D R O C K P L AT E A U, O N T H E E A S T E R N

E D G E O F T H E J U D E A N D E S E R T, O V E R L O O K I N G T H E D E A D S E A . H E R O D T H E G R E AT B U I LT PA L A C E S F O R

H I M S E L F O N T H E M O U N TA I N A N D F O R T I F I E D M A S A D A B E T W E E N 3 7 A N D 3 1 B C . T H E S I E G E O F M A S A D A B Y

T R O O P S O F T H E R O M A N E M P I R E T O WA R D S T H E E N D O F T H E F I R S T J E W I S H – R O M A N WA R E N D E D I N T H E M A S S

S U I C I D E O F 9 6 0 P E O P L E .

Aerial View of Masada

In order to attack Mesada, the Romans built a ramp using Jewish slaves. This ramp is the only Roman siege ramp still in existence.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Caves

Click icon to add pictureIt was in one of these caves that Bedouin shepherd children found what have come to be known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were made of leather dating back to 300BC – 70AD. The children brought them to a village cobbler in the hope that he’d buy them to make shoes and sandals. He kept them for years after recognizing their biblical significance.

One of the Dead Sea ScrollsThe two shepherd boys found 7 earthenware jars containing the priceless biblical manuscripts.

The Dead SeaThe Dead Sea is

actually a large

salt lake and at

1000 feet below

sea level it is the

lowest spot on

earth.

Robin Ankle Deep in the Dead SeaThe mud was so thick and the suction of the water so strong that it was all Robin could do to pull herself out, as can be seen in the next slide.

JerusalemAfter checking into our hotel and although it was already getting late, we and several others from our group were invited to accompany Dr. Wayne Barnes on a walk into the Old City, about 15 minutes away. Passing through the Damascus Gate we found the bazaar of the Old City still alive with people of all three major religions – Christian, Jew, and Muslim – buying and selling wares of all kinds or eating at any number of the small restaurants that lined the streets.

Tom along the Via Dolorosa

Tom with the Dome of the Rock in the background.

Click icon to add pictureThe golden dome in the background is the famous “Dome of the Rock.” The silver dome in the foreground is Tom’s head.

The “Dome of the Rock”

The most famous Islamic site in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock, which can be seen from all over Jerusalem. It is the crowning glory of the Temple Mount.

The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a Muslim shrine. Like the Ka'ba in Mecca, it is built over a sacred stone. This stone is believed to be the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven during his Night Journey to heaven.

The Dome of the Rock is the oldest Islamic monument that stands today and certainly one of the most beautiful.

The Garden of GethsemaneThere are 8 ancient olive trees found in the garden today. Nearby is the Church of Agony, also called the Church of All Nations, which was erected over the rock at which Jesus was believed to have prayed and wept blood.

Rock of Agony

Click icon to add pictureSurrounding this Rock of Agony is a wrought iron crown of thorns.

Garden of Gethsemane

Church of Agony

Click icon to add pictureImage from the Church of Agony depicting Christ’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Garden of Gethsemane

Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Click icon to add pictureThe cobble stone road is said to be the road Jesus would have walked down after being condemned to death by Pontius Pilate

The Garden Tomb

Click icon to add pictureThis is one of two possible sites where Jesus is thought to have been buried.

Valley of Elah: where David slew GoliathThis is our guide Leslie

Dr. Wayne Barnes

Click icon to add pictureJoppa: Tel Aviv

Click icon to add pictureRobin crashing a wedding party in Jerusalem – mazaltov!

Children’s art: …we are all the same.

Click icon to add pictureThat’s what I call bread!

Joppa restaurant.

Click icon to add pictureThis is one of the several gates leading into the old city of Jerusalem.

Click icon to add pictureTom & Robin with the resident monk at Samuel’s Tomb.

Click icon to add pictureThe bazaar in Jerusalem’s Old City

Fresh Fruit from a Street Vendor

The Stone of Unction Where Christ's Body was Prepared for Burial Outside of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Robin at The Stone of Unction Where Christ's Body was Prepared for Burial

The Wailing Wall

… I S L O C AT E D I N T H E O L D C I T Y O F J E R U S A L E M . I T I S A R E L AT I V E LY S M A L L S E G M E N T O F T H E S T R U C T U R E

W H I C H O R I G I N A L LY C O M P O S E D T H E W E S T E R N R E TA I N I N G WA L L O F T H E S E C O N D J E W I S H T E M P L E AT O P T H E H I L L K N O W N A S T H E T E M P L E M O U N T T O

J E W S A N D C H R I S T I A N S . T H E WA L L A C T U A L LY E X T E N D S B E L O W G R O U N D A N D O U R G R O U P WA S A B L E T O WA L K

A L O N G I T, T H R O U G H N A R R O W PA S S A G E WAY S , L E AV I N G PA R Y E R S I F W E W I S H E D I N C R E V I C E S I N T H E WA L L .

School Field Trip

Visitors to the Western “Wailing” Wall

Tom at Scale Model of 1st c. Jerusalem

Church of the Assumption

School Field Trip

Click icon to add pictureRobin with a Franciscan

Monk

The Judean Desert in Springtime

Robin, Margaret, and Tom

Petra, Jordan

I N H A B I T E D S I N C E P R E H I S T O R I C T I M E S , T H I S C A R AVA N -C I T Y, S I T U A T E D B E T W E E N T H E R E D S E A A N D T H E D E A D

S E A , WA S A N I M P O R T A N T C R O S S R O A D S B E T W E E N A R A B I A , E G Y P T A N D S Y R I A - P H O E N I C I A . P E T R A I S H A L F - B U I LT,

H A L F - C A R V E D I N T O T H E R O C K , A N D I S S U R R O U N D E D B Y M O U N T A I N S R I D D L E D W I T H PA S S A G E S A N D G O R G E S .

C A L L E D T H E “ L O S T C I T Y ” I T I S O N E O F T H E W O R L D ' S M O S T F A M O U S A R C H A E O L O G I C A L S I T E S , W H E R E A N C I E N T E A S T E R N T R A D I T I O N S B L E N D W I T H H E L L E N I S T I C

A R C H I T E C T U R E .

This iswherethe tourbus stoppedfor thewalk --or mule/horseridedowninto the ruinsof Petra.

Cave Dwellings at Petra

Until a few years ago, when Petra was designated a UNESCO world heritage site (1985), these sandstone caves were still being inhabited, primarily by goat and sheep herders.

Entrance into the Valley

Click icon to add pictureRobin about to emerge into the open area in front of the famous Treasury.

Visitors can ride down to the site in mule-drawn carts. Most of us walked.

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Emerging into the open after a mile and a half walk.

Click icon to add pictureThe Treasury is the centerpiece of the ancient site; it was carved out of solid rock and stands over 40 meters high.

Some of the locals who sell a variety of souvenirs.

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Dr. Wayne Barnes relaxing after a long trek down into Petra.

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Click icon to add pictureTom holding tight to his ‘rock’ behind some very important big rock, the significance of which we’ve both forgotten.

Definitely important though!

FROM PETRA , THOSE IN OUR GROUP WHO’D OPTED FOR THE ADD -ON TO PETRA , DROV E

TO THE CAPITOL OF JORDAN, AMMAN WHERE WE TOOK A VERY QUICK TOUR OF THE CITY

BEFORE RETURNING TO OUR HOTEL FOR DINNER, A NAP, AND A LATE NIGHT

DEPARTURE FOR HOME

Amman, Jordan

Ruins of the Ancient Roman Theater

View of Downtown Amman from our Hotel Room