Oh my goodness!!!! Is that OMG?
(I'm having fun trying to add photos so that may have to wait!)
(I'm having fun trying to add photos so that may have to wait!)
Have now managed to resolve that problem! I hope you like the strained glass - I did! Glass has a particular fascination for me. It often changes as the day passes and the light quality alters. The top photo is from the church of the Holy Sepulchre and shows the little crosses that were carved into the stones by our forebears.
Our first full day in Jerusalem and I have been blown away! The alarm call and breakfast were early - especially after getting to bed the wrong side of midnight but then that's what pilgrimages are all about!
We started the day by celebrating Mass at St Ann's church. (St Ann is the mother of Mary.) We had been warned that the acoustics were stunning but nothing prepared me for the sensation I felt as the notes echoed around and around and then hung in the upper reaches of the roof... Possibly a foretaste of what heaven will be like? Who knows, but I do know that if that is the case I'd be more than happy.
We then started on a walking tour that introduced us to the old town and the Old Testament. So we saw sites that linked directly to David, Solomon and Hezekiah We dipped out toes in the pool of Siloam where Jesus cured the blind man. We were challenged afresh by Jesus' question to the cripple at the pool of Bethsaida - Do you want to be healed? Do you want your life to be turned upside down? We saw the tunnel that was constructed to secure the water supply in 8th century BC, that was started from each end AND met in the middle... a latter day Channel Tunnel, without all the technology.
We walked along and crossed the Kidron Valley and encountered four young boys who were clearly 'bunking' school! They were sitting in an opening about 20ft above the ground in an old carved tomb. They lowered a plastic bag and asked for a shekel in return for their photos to be taken! Very enterprising! (Mark - note, I used the word very!)
I was really struck by the steepness of the hills. We walked up and down valleys. It was tough going! But we all made it. We saw cavernous prison cells and the holes through the ceilings where the persecuted were 'strung up' to be flogged. It was completely believable... in fact all too graphic...
We went into the Armenian Quarter for lunch - it was delicious! We were reminded of the genocide that forced them to flee through a torn poster on a wall.
Before we attended Vespers in the Armenian Orthodox church - utterly amazing - we went to see the church of the Dormition. One of the possible sites where Mary is buried. (The daughter of St Ann, and mother of Jesus! Are you keeping up with all this? Its a bit like a TV serial, you have to keep your wits about you!) The church was so beautiful. It was tranquil, well it was when we arrived, just as it opened after lunch. The decorations on the walls and ceilings and the pure serenity of the space transported me.
As we left - reluctantly - we enjoyed a fab coffee and wandered round the shop, a new 'low' in souvenirs was spotted, Holy Land playing cards!
We made good time and got to the Armenian church in time for Vespers (see above!) It was other worldly. No books, no problems, no hitches... You just KNEW that this worship had been handed down across the centuries. I also noticed that there was a real resonance between it and the call to prayer that we are becoming used to. The intonation, the rhythms all echo back to a shared past... and maybe the echoes I heard so early this morning...?
But our day was not finished. We then went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that encapsulated Calvary - where Christ was crucified - and the stone on which it is claimed he was laid... as well as the tomb itself. Its all so busy and so complicated, the shrine is shared by four different denominations. The pilgrims come in a constant stream. The hustle and bustle is considerable but we went up the really steep stairs to Calvary and the queue was short... so we joined it. I have to own up that as I watched Fr Brian and Jonathan pray at that spot, the spot where it is said the cross stood, I felt utterly overwhelmed. The sensation was surprising and completely unexpected. As I knelt on that place the tears fell down my cheeks.
Does it matter if this was the real place where the cross was erected...??? No! No, it doesn't to me. The fact is it happened somewhere.
The contrasts in this amazing place are almost beyond description. The smells and sounds assail you constantly. There is poverty and there is plenty - just like other cities. Maybe over the next couple of days I can expand on that...
We walked through souks and had great fun. The title of tackiest souvenir has been overtaken by a set of holographic Jesus stickers - which I might just HAVE to buy. At a dollar for a whole sheet they are a snip!!!
We've had a Sultan's Feast tonight (this hotel is fabulous! convenient, vibrant and FUN!) and I must get back to it! I have a super photo of Fr Derek surrounded by a whole harem of bejewelled ladies!! Let's hope I can load that up soon!!
Our first full day in Jerusalem and I have been blown away! The alarm call and breakfast were early - especially after getting to bed the wrong side of midnight but then that's what pilgrimages are all about!
We started the day by celebrating Mass at St Ann's church. (St Ann is the mother of Mary.) We had been warned that the acoustics were stunning but nothing prepared me for the sensation I felt as the notes echoed around and around and then hung in the upper reaches of the roof... Possibly a foretaste of what heaven will be like? Who knows, but I do know that if that is the case I'd be more than happy.
We then started on a walking tour that introduced us to the old town and the Old Testament. So we saw sites that linked directly to David, Solomon and Hezekiah We dipped out toes in the pool of Siloam where Jesus cured the blind man. We were challenged afresh by Jesus' question to the cripple at the pool of Bethsaida - Do you want to be healed? Do you want your life to be turned upside down? We saw the tunnel that was constructed to secure the water supply in 8th century BC, that was started from each end AND met in the middle... a latter day Channel Tunnel, without all the technology.
We walked along and crossed the Kidron Valley and encountered four young boys who were clearly 'bunking' school! They were sitting in an opening about 20ft above the ground in an old carved tomb. They lowered a plastic bag and asked for a shekel in return for their photos to be taken! Very enterprising! (Mark - note, I used the word very!)
I was really struck by the steepness of the hills. We walked up and down valleys. It was tough going! But we all made it. We saw cavernous prison cells and the holes through the ceilings where the persecuted were 'strung up' to be flogged. It was completely believable... in fact all too graphic...
We went into the Armenian Quarter for lunch - it was delicious! We were reminded of the genocide that forced them to flee through a torn poster on a wall.
Before we attended Vespers in the Armenian Orthodox church - utterly amazing - we went to see the church of the Dormition. One of the possible sites where Mary is buried. (The daughter of St Ann, and mother of Jesus! Are you keeping up with all this? Its a bit like a TV serial, you have to keep your wits about you!) The church was so beautiful. It was tranquil, well it was when we arrived, just as it opened after lunch. The decorations on the walls and ceilings and the pure serenity of the space transported me.
As we left - reluctantly - we enjoyed a fab coffee and wandered round the shop, a new 'low' in souvenirs was spotted, Holy Land playing cards!
We made good time and got to the Armenian church in time for Vespers (see above!) It was other worldly. No books, no problems, no hitches... You just KNEW that this worship had been handed down across the centuries. I also noticed that there was a real resonance between it and the call to prayer that we are becoming used to. The intonation, the rhythms all echo back to a shared past... and maybe the echoes I heard so early this morning...?
But our day was not finished. We then went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that encapsulated Calvary - where Christ was crucified - and the stone on which it is claimed he was laid... as well as the tomb itself. Its all so busy and so complicated, the shrine is shared by four different denominations. The pilgrims come in a constant stream. The hustle and bustle is considerable but we went up the really steep stairs to Calvary and the queue was short... so we joined it. I have to own up that as I watched Fr Brian and Jonathan pray at that spot, the spot where it is said the cross stood, I felt utterly overwhelmed. The sensation was surprising and completely unexpected. As I knelt on that place the tears fell down my cheeks.
Does it matter if this was the real place where the cross was erected...??? No! No, it doesn't to me. The fact is it happened somewhere.
The contrasts in this amazing place are almost beyond description. The smells and sounds assail you constantly. There is poverty and there is plenty - just like other cities. Maybe over the next couple of days I can expand on that...
We walked through souks and had great fun. The title of tackiest souvenir has been overtaken by a set of holographic Jesus stickers - which I might just HAVE to buy. At a dollar for a whole sheet they are a snip!!!
We've had a Sultan's Feast tonight (this hotel is fabulous! convenient, vibrant and FUN!) and I must get back to it! I have a super photo of Fr Derek surrounded by a whole harem of bejewelled ladies!! Let's hope I can load that up soon!!
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