As one of the oldest cities on Earth, Jerusalem is filled with a long and complex history. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout its centuries of existence, and is still being fought over today. The city is claimed by both Israel and Palestine as the countries' capital and is disputed by the world's three major monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Despite these heavily debated conflicts, I believe the world can unite in agreeing that Jerusalem, being home to some of the holiest places on Earth, it truly is a city like no other.
One of the ancient city's holy sites is the grand Temple Mount, the third holiest place for Muslims and the most significant holy site for Jews. For Muslims, the Temple Mount is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock, both debated to be the place from which the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have ascended to heaven. To Jews, on the other hand, the compound is the site where King Solomon's Temples were built and destroyed as well as the place where, biblically, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Due to its importance to both Islam and Judaism, the Temple Mount has often sparked conflicts between followers of the two religions. Despite this, it currently remains under Muslim management where non-Muslim prayer is forbidden.
A part of the Temple Mount we were able to see up close was the Western or Wailing Wall, the last remaining remnant of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. We watched as the warm sun illuminated its limestone bricks and as it towered over crowds of locals and tourists alike. It was somehow entrancing to watch people pray intently at its base, some sliding notes and wishes into its fissures and crevices. Being the holiest place at which Jews are allowed to pray, it is of immense significance to the Jewish people.
For Christians on the other hand, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most important sacred sites, for it is believed to enclose the place where Jesus was crucified, died, and was resurrected. Packed with worshippers paying pilgrimage to the church, its importance truly was not difficult to realize. As soon as I entered, the air suddenly cooled around me and my eyes began to adjust to the flickering candlelight and shadows. It was not far from the entrance where many believers can be found at the Stone of Unction or Anointing, the place where Jesus's body is believed to have been prepared for burial. Located beneath a colorful mosaic describing the events, worshippers knelt to touch the stone and pray.
Within the same church also lies the Tomb of Jesus beneath a great dome where a gaping hole at its top allows a streak of sunlight to peek through. This airy space is surrounded by a mysterious aura as pilgrims gather in the darkness, awaiting their chance to glimpse the interior of the tomb's shrine.
The Rock of the Calvary is yet another sacred piece of Christianity that calls the Church of the Holy Sepulchre home and it is one of the most visited in the church. Being the place where Jesus's crucifixion is believed to have occurred, it is difficult to miss with its gleaming, gold ornaments. While believers unify in reverence of this holy site, it is yet divided into jurisdictions of the Latin or Roman Catholic, Copts, Ethiopian, Greek, American, and Syrian Orthodox groups of the faith.
Where three of the world's major monotheistic religions intertwine, a diverse identity is forged for Jerusalem which we were lucky enough to witness as we visited some of its most important holy sites. Although conflicts are still very much existent in Jerusalem, it still unifies people worldwide to agree that it is unlike any other place on Earth. We may only wonder at what Jerusalem could be under circumstances of peace.
We visited Jerusalem in 2017 during our year-long trip around the world. Click on the link to read more!
