First, we visited St. John the Baptist’s cathedral which is believed to be his birthplace. John the Baptist is believed to be the cousin of Jesus who baptized him in the Jordan River. He was said to be a pious Jew who dressed in camel hair robes and ate locusts and honey when he lived in the Negev desert. Here we observed the tourists from all different countries and backgrounds who had come to the cathedral. We looked around the main sanctuary before an offer was extended to us by one of the fathers to look around an ancient Byzantine tomb. He then led us to a door that led below the cathedral into ruins of an ancient synagogue. When we asked the priest why he gave us these special privileges he replied with the simple statement, “I love the kids.”
After a short break, we continued to our second stop, the Church of the Visitation. According to Christian belief, this site honors the visit that the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, paid to her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. According to Christian scripture, John recognized the presence of Jesus from inside his mother's womb. In response to this, Mary recited the Magnificat (a prayer that is still said today and appears in 69 different languages outside the church). Although I am not a Christian, it was deeply moving to see the pilgrims who had come from all over the world to experience the holy land. For many, it may have been one of the most important days of their life. As a French group came to the church and sang the Magnificat, a prayer they had likely sang since their childhood, we came to realize just how important it was. It was very interesting to learn about Christianity from a Jewish lense. Because we come from a country where the overwhelming majority of the population is Christian, it made the lesson even more interesting as we examined the origins of Christianity and its connection to Judaism.
It was very interesting to learn about Christianity from a Jewish lens. Because we come from a country where the overwhelming majority of the population is Christian, it made the lesson even more interesting as we examined the origins of Christianity and its connection to Judaism. How did it feel to be allowed to visit the ancient tomb and mikveh?
Was it strange to be in the place of worship of another faith?
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| Sanctuary at St. John the Baptist's cathedral |
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| The place where John the Baptist was supposedly born |
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| The Magnificat written in 69 different languages |
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| The sanctuary at the Church of the Vistiation |
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| Kitat Kineret |
it was a little strange to be in a different place of worship and it was nice to be able to visit those areas
ReplyDeleteBeing in the ancient mikveh was an interesting feeling, kind of spiritual i guess. I did not feel weird in a church because it was just cool in general.
ReplyDeleteI think it is cool that my class was allowed to go to ancient tombs and a mikvah, while I wan't there, it was nice reading about. For me it is rarely a problem to be in places like a masque pr a church seeing that I go into churches all the time as a vocalist, and would assume that if I had been there it would have been no different.
ReplyDeleteIt felt like a privilege to get visit the ancient mikveh and tomb. It was fun to experience a piece of history that combined multiple religions. It wasn't really strange to be in the place of worship of another faith because I like seeing other cultures and religions.
ReplyDeleteI felt like our group was really special went we went to the tombs and the mikveh. It was really interesting how we were the only group allowed in when we were the only ones where the church did not have a special meaning to us. It was strange to be in another groups place of worship but it was also amazing to be in a place that means so much to so many people.
ReplyDeleteI felt honored that I got to go to the ancient tomb and mikveh. It was crazy to think that I was allowed in one of the most holiest places for a Christian because I was Jewish. Being in such a holy place felt a little unusual to me because I barely know anything about Christianity. So I felt somewhat guilty that I, a Jew who barely knows anything about Christianity, got the chance to go to such an important place for Christians. The place was so fascinating and I enjoyed it, but I will never be able to understand its full importance and value as much as a Christian would.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was incredible that we were allowed to visit the ancient structures, and that ––even though we are Jewish–– we were invited to see a remarkably holy sight for another faith. To me, it wasn't strange seeing these holy structures for catholics. I was highly interested and always love learning about other religions and cultures. Many of my friends are christian and it was great learning about their faiths in an exceedingly holy place for them.
ReplyDeleteIt was great visiting the sites the Father let us enter. I felt like an undercover agent. I really enjoyed seeing there church because it allowed me to compare and contrast it to a temple. It was also a very beautiful church.
ReplyDeleteI was very grateful that we were allowed to go and see the ancient places that most other people weren't able to see. I liked being at the Church because I am very interested in other religions and like learning about them.b
ReplyDeleteI felt privileged to be able and see the ancient tomb and mikvah, because I know that that isn't something that very many people get to do, and it was really cool to be able to see what they looked like. For me it wasn't too weird being in a house of worship for a another faith.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting being in a different religions house of faith because it was not something I am used to doing. Being able to go into the tombs was also a weird and unique experience because most people do not get to do that.
ReplyDeleteIt was very strange to be in a place of worship of Jesus while in Jerusalem, but it was overall a cool experience, especially when that one Priest at the church let us go into this little secluded area underground. It also shows that we can all get along and that religion doesn’t define who you are as a person.
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