The Epicenter of History
In Jerusalem’s Old City, Christian pilgrims visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located on the site where the faithful believe Jesus was crucified, then resurrected.
Nearby, pious Jews gather at the Western Wall of Temple Mount, whose foundation, according to Jewish tradition, was built by King Solomon. Many Jews believe The Wall is near the spot God gathered the dust He used to create Adam.
A few hundred yards away is The Dome of the Rock, the oldest Islamic building in the world and the third holiest site in Islam. Muslims believe that from this spot Muhammad ascended to heaven on the back of his horse, before returning to earth to record his vision.
Is it possible to pack more historic, cultural and religious significance into an area less than a square mile?
I am not a particularly religious person, but my skin tingled as I walked the cobblestone streets of a city whose sites that have been fought over for centuries. A place that stands at the heart of so many of the great conflicts of human history.
It is impossible to visit Jerusalem’s Old City and not be moved.
June 8, 2009 3 Comments