Wednesday, October 1, 2008




Posted by Picasa

The hologram (3P) refers to where the column stood (see introduction for details).



Posted by Picasa

Zedekiah's Caves or Solomon's Quarries

In 1854, Biblical scholar Dr. James Turner Barclay (1807-1874) was walking outside the Old City walls of Jerusalem with his son and his dog. Suddenly the dog vanished and the search for the dog (trapped in a deep cistern) resulted in the discovery of the largest artificial cave ever to be uncovered in Israel. Even 150 years after its discovery, the 9000 square metre big cave with an average height of 4-storey-building, remains shrouded in mystery. The limestones qurried here are of superior quality and known as Melekh (Royal), were used for construction of Royal edifices. Based on the fact that these artificial caves are near the Temple Mount and the Holy Bible records King Solomn's 80,000 quarries (I Kings 5:29-31); scholars assume it to be the same Solomon's Quarries whose stones were used to build the Jerusalem Temple. Freemasons consider King Solomon their patron (the greatest builder of Biblical period ) and believe that their ancestors held their Jerusalem meetings here. Some hold the view that the royal tombs of the House of Judah (where most of the Jewish Kings are buried) were in these caverns.

Regarding the name Zedekiah's Cave: Babylonians besieged Jerusalem (587 BC) and captured Zedekiah, the last Jewish King of Davidic dynasty from the plains of Jericho (Jeremiah 52:7-8). Jewish traditions say that Zedekiah attempted to escape through these caves that extended from Jerusalem to the Plains of Jericho. Many legends were later added to this story. Today, the water seeping through one of the cave's ceiling and draining into a small pool is called Zedekiah's Tears , referring to the tears shed by him upon seein his children executed by Babylonians (2 Kings 25:1-7; 2 Chronicles 36:12; Jeremiah 32:4,5; 34:2, 3; 39:1-7; 52:4-11; Ezekiel 12:12). To walk through the complex network of these dark and cold caves were a different experience for me. Moreover, it was a bit scary to be there as I was the only person inside the complex.





Posted by Picasa



Posted by Picasa



Posted by Picasa


Posted by Picasa



Posted by Picasa



Posted by Picasa

The Church of St. John the Baptist and Muristan

The Church of St. John the Baptist is the oldest church in Jerusalem and was founded around 450-460 AD by the empress Eudokia. It is possible the church was built due to the presence here of the relics of John the Baptist, which were sent to various cities in the 4th century including Jerusalem. Another tradition assumes it to be the site of the house of Zebedee, father of the apostles James and John. The church was restored by the Patriarch of Alexandria after its destruction by the Persians in 614. The church was extensively rebuilt over the original foundations in the 11th century. Aside from the modern facade with its two small bell towers, the Church of St. John the Baptist has remained mostly unchanged for almost 1,000 years. The present church was built by the merchants of Amalfi and became the headquarters of the Knights Hospitallers. In 1099, many Christian knights who were wounded during the seige of Jerusalem were cared for in this church. After their recovery, some of the grateful knights dedicated themselves to helping the sick and protecting pilgrims to the Holy Land. Calling themselves the Knights of the Hospital of St. John, they later developed into the military order of the Hospitallers, who played a key role in the defense of the Holy Land. The crypt of the church was apparently filled with debris and abandoned in 1187, after which only the upper church (the present church) was in use, probably by Greek Orthodox priests. The church seems to have become a mosque in the 16th century, but was soon returned to Greek ownership. In 1660, a large hospice for pilgrims was built adjacent to the church. In the 19th century, the crypt was cleared out and a splendid reliquary was discovered in the masonry of the altar (it is now in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Museum). Excavations also uncovered various architectural fragments from the Byzantine and Crusader eras.

above details are extracted from

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-church-of-st-john-the-baptist.htm

Muristan in persian means hospital. The area refers to the location of one of the oldest hospitals of Jerusalem (600 AD). Later the hospital was known as the Knights of St John (Hospitallers) or the Knights of Malta. Today the Muristan is a famous market area and eating outlet. At the center of the square you can see a 19th century fountain.

see more

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muristan



Posted by Picasa

The Church of Holy Sepulcher




Posted by Picasa

The Church of Holy Sepulcher: entering inside the Tomb of Christ. Last Photo is however from Chapel of Adam.




Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The relics room inside the Church of Holy Sepulcher?

This room inside the chapel of Adam (just below Golgotha) was unnoticed during my previous visits to Jerusalem. At this trip to Jerusalem, I met a Russian Orthodox priest who was the care taker of the 'Tomb of Prophets' in Mt of Olives. He suggested me about a room inside the chapel of Adam, where ancient relics are kept and added that it is rarely opened. To my luck I found the room opened. Following are a few snaps from the room. At present, I don't know what the artifacts signify, but I assure you that the I will find the answer soon.