Today we have moved from Jerusalem to the Galilee where we are staying at the Ron Beach Hotel. All the rooms overlook the Sea of Galilee and t is a lovely place to be. I am hoping to catch a sunrise one day
Our travels today begain with a visit to the Church Mary, Marth and Lazarus Church of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany. It is another one designed by Berlucchi and is stimply stunning. His gift for using architecture to mirror the Bible narratives was amazing
Following the time at the church in its beautiful, simple gardens (and a couple of rides on a camel!) we set off for the Jeel al Amal School - also in Bethany. The School was set up by a couple in 1972, since which time it has offered education for many hundreds of boys, as well as accommodation for boys who are orphans, abused or abandoned - all in the very difficult place to live of Bethany. Far from the peaceful place 'over the hill' from Jerusalem, which Jesus would have known, it is now a place that is rundown, with little to offer hope for a community of people who find themselves on the wrong side of the Wall which has been built by the Israelis. What a troubled place this Holy Land is
We moved on Jericho to visit the Mount of Temptation. One reaches the site where it is believed Jesus spent time in the desert by travelling up on a Cable Car (complete with a (long) pause high up in the air - very high up in the air!) and then walking up a further 150+ uneven steps to reach the entry to the Monastery of the Temptation. We were treated very graciously by the man who now acts as a Gate Keeper. As there is a constant stream of visitors knocking on teh Monastrey door, I am not surprised they emply someon for this task. We seemed to garner some favour with the chap as we were allowed time in the uppermost Chapel to pray, as well as a Side Chapel lower down in which to sing. We tried not to outstay our welcome as this was obviously not a privilege afforded to all - I have never been made so welcome before. There are many beautiful murals here, as well as a breathtaing view across Jericho and beyond, from the (very narrow) veranda
Then on to the Baptismal site at Qasr al-Yahud, recently re-opened following many years of closure. It is a lovely serene place, much more calm than the other place I visited five years ago. Here we renewed our Baptismal Vows and sang the wonderful hymn I will sing the wondrous story - all overlooked by around seven or eight Israeli soldiers who are there to take note as the site is within 20 feet of the Jordanian shore
More wondrous places to visit tomorrow - with some time, hopefully, to upload some photographs
Our travels today begain with a visit to the Church Mary, Marth and Lazarus Church of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany. It is another one designed by Berlucchi and is stimply stunning. His gift for using architecture to mirror the Bible narratives was amazing
Following the time at the church in its beautiful, simple gardens (and a couple of rides on a camel!) we set off for the Jeel al Amal School - also in Bethany. The School was set up by a couple in 1972, since which time it has offered education for many hundreds of boys, as well as accommodation for boys who are orphans, abused or abandoned - all in the very difficult place to live of Bethany. Far from the peaceful place 'over the hill' from Jerusalem, which Jesus would have known, it is now a place that is rundown, with little to offer hope for a community of people who find themselves on the wrong side of the Wall which has been built by the Israelis. What a troubled place this Holy Land is
We moved on Jericho to visit the Mount of Temptation. One reaches the site where it is believed Jesus spent time in the desert by travelling up on a Cable Car (complete with a (long) pause high up in the air - very high up in the air!) and then walking up a further 150+ uneven steps to reach the entry to the Monastery of the Temptation. We were treated very graciously by the man who now acts as a Gate Keeper. As there is a constant stream of visitors knocking on teh Monastrey door, I am not surprised they emply someon for this task. We seemed to garner some favour with the chap as we were allowed time in the uppermost Chapel to pray, as well as a Side Chapel lower down in which to sing. We tried not to outstay our welcome as this was obviously not a privilege afforded to all - I have never been made so welcome before. There are many beautiful murals here, as well as a breathtaing view across Jericho and beyond, from the (very narrow) veranda
Then on to the Baptismal site at Qasr al-Yahud, recently re-opened following many years of closure. It is a lovely serene place, much more calm than the other place I visited five years ago. Here we renewed our Baptismal Vows and sang the wonderful hymn I will sing the wondrous story - all overlooked by around seven or eight Israeli soldiers who are there to take note as the site is within 20 feet of the Jordanian shore
More wondrous places to visit tomorrow - with some time, hopefully, to upload some photographs
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