Category: Religious and Spiritual Travel

Places in Jerusalem where Easter comes alive

Post author By admin-tonya
Post date April 5, 2015
No Comments on Places in Jerusalem where Easter comes alive

Easter Sunday is the most joyous day in the Christian calendar. The day marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ who died on the cross at Calvary as a sign of love for all people so that they can also be resurrected from sin.

On a recent trip to Israel we had the pleasure of visiting numerous sites throughout the country that really brought the Bible to life for us. In Jerusalem, we visited several places that were poignant reminders of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. To say that we felt God’s presence and experienced powerful biblical history is an understatement. In celebration of this important holiday we are pleased to share just a few reflections from our lens. Happy Easter and Passover.

Mount Scopus overlooking Jerusalem — We enjoyed a panoramic view of Jerusalem as we stood on Mount Scopus overlooking the Mount of Olives. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick

Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations — We reflected on Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’s last night with his disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick

As we walked the 1-mile length of the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) through the Old City of Jerusalem, we thought about the phyical challenge that Jesus felt as he carried the cross along the hilly terrain to his death on Calvary.

id=”attachment_11186″ align=”alignleft” caption=”There are 14 Stations of the Cross that depict images of Jesus carrying the cross. This 6th Station identifies a Jerusalem woman who wiped the face of Jesus. The cloth she used reportedly took up the image of Jesus. The Greek translation of this event is called Vera Icon, meaning ‘true image’, thus the woman becomes known as Veronica. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick”

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as the Church of the Resurrection or Church of Anastasis, is considered to be the holiest church in the world because it is the place where Jesus died on Calvary and tomb where He was resurrected. The Church, which is located in the Christian side of the Old City, contains the last few Stations of the Cross, the Calvary (Golgotha) Altar, the Stone of Anointing, the Aedicule that holds the Holy Sepulchre and the Tomb.

id=”attachment_11186″ align=”alignleft” caption=”Calvary (Golgotha) altar. Visitors can feel the hole where the cross was erected. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick”

id=”attachment_11186″ align=”alignleft” caption=”A mosaic depiction of Christ’s body being prepared after his death, opposite the Stone of Anointing. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick”

id=”attachment_11186″ align=”alignleft” caption=”Visitors kneel down to kiss the Stone of Anointing. This is where Jesus’ body is said to have been anointed before burial. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick”

id=”attachment_11186″ align=”alignleft” caption=”The Aedicule. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick”

For Christians, traveling along the Via Dolorosa and visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are high points on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Experiencing biblical history during our travels through the Old City and New Jerusalem is one of the most transformative travel experiences we have had. Certainly, our visit was reminder that Easter is much more than chocolate bunnies and colored eggs.

Tags Bible, Easter, Israel, Jerusalem, Jesus, Resurrection, Stations of the Cross, Via Dolorosa

Archaelogogical Tourism Culture and Heritage Historical Travel International Travel Middle East Religious and Spiritual Travel Uncategorized

Walk where Jesus walked

For Christians, few travel opportunities are as meaningful as the chance to visit Israel and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Even those who do not consider themselves Christians can enjoy the ancient history and stories behind these moving sites.

Jerusalem

Within the city of Jerusalem are many sites that relate to the life of Jesus, especially those where events occurred during the final week of his earthly life.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

This church stands on the ground that is believed to be the crucifixion site and his burial tomb. Construction on the church began in AD 326, and it is a beautiful place to meditate upon the suffering and death of the Savior. A rock outcropping stands within the interior of the church that is believed to be the spot where the cross stood as Jesus died.

Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives is an important location in Bible history with the Garden of Gethsemane at its base. Walk where Jesus walked and prayed for the strength to endure his upcoming trials. Pray in the place where the apostles fell asleep waiting. An ancient olive grove contains trees that could be over 1,000 years old, though it is unlikely that they are those Christ touched since the Romans burnt the grove in AD 70.

Nazareth

Modern Nazareth would be unrecognizable to those who lived in it as a small town during Jesus’ time. The sprawling city now boasts over 60,000 inhabitants, and it can be difficult to connect it to the modest boyhood home of Jesus. As the location where Jesus spent his childhood and young adult life learning to be a carpenter, the sweeping views available in the countryside near Nazareth remain similar to those he would have enjoyed. Visitors can see the cliffs that synagogue members threatened to throw Jesus from when he preached that he was the Messiah.

Galilee

No other location is mentioned more in the Bible than the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus preached, drove out demons, and challenged his apostles to walk on water. Measuring approximately 90 square miles, this body of water is surrounded by traditional sites of the calling of the apostles, Jesus’ third post resurrection appearance, and the feeding of the 5,000. Walk through these historic sites before watching a spectacular sunset over the water. Close by is Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. (We tasted the wine during our visit there. It was very sweet.)

Tags Galilee, Jerusalem, Jesus, Mount of Olives, Nazareth, Religious Relics, Religious Travel

Culture and Heritage Historical Travel Religious and Spiritual Travel Uncategorized

The art of Thaipusam- a measure of Devotion

Post author By admin-tonya
Post date February 3, 2014
No Comments on The art of Thaipusam- a measure of Devotion

Looking for a travel experience that’s religious-based?

Each year in January or February, over 1.6 million devotees and visitors make their way to Malaysia’s most popular Hindu shrine at the Batu Caves, to join in celebration for their religious holiday Thaipusam. The shrine is dedicated to Murugan, the God of War, and the exciting festival is the largest gathering in multi-racial Malaysia.

The climb up to the Batu Caves is a hard one, with 272 steps. However, thousands of worshippers, locals, and tourists gladly take the trek which is filled with dancing and fabulous color, in order to reach the “Cathedral Cave.” The cave is teeming with lavish Hindu shrines, and is over 300-feet above ground.

This gathering is just outside the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur, with Murugan as its focal point. The story behind the festival’s start is an intriguing one, and like many god-related tales, is one of good triumphing over evil. Thaipusam is a commemoration of events in Hindu history, and devotees honor and praise Murugan in remembrance of the time Parvati gave Murugan a vel—spear, so he could destroy Soorapadman, the evil demon.

Thousands of devotees take their celebrations a few steps further by observing penance as an act of devotion. Many pierce their cheeks or tongues with vels, or steel rods that are long and shiny, they also stab their backs with hook-like needles and, many carry heavy kavadis—burdens, or decorative frames on their shoulders. It is believed that the greater the pain inflicted, the more god-earned merit, so those who consider themselves most devout will often perform multiple acts of penance to prove their worth to Murugan.

As worshippers cleanse their bodies of sin, patrons from other religious, and tourists, travel alongside to witness one of Malaysia’s religious highlights firsthand. Often devotees are discernable from the piercings found on their faces and upper bodies, and the kavadis they carry.

If you’re a visitor but want to take part in a way other than dancing or cheering, consider carrying a pot of milk as penance.

Tags Malaysia, Religious holiday, Thaipusam