We are blessed to be able to march in the Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem. As we walked through the streets, waving our palm branch and calling out “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9), I felt a deep connection to the powerful words of scripture and the hope and promise of our faith.
The cry of “Hosanna” is a plea for salvation, a cry for help in times of trouble. The same cries Jesus heard as he entered Jerusalem! Hearing the crowds called out for salvation, recognizing him as the one who comes in the name of the Lord. In this cry, we stir up the depth of our need for redemption and the power of our faith to provide that redemption.
In the Gospel of John, we are reminded of Jesus’ own words: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Through Jesus, we find the way to salvation and the promise of eternal life. It is this promise that we celebrate during the Palm Sunday procession.
As we march, we were reminded of the words of the Psalmist: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord” (Psalm 118:26). We are called to bless the name of the Lord, recognizing the power and majesty of our God and the hope that he provides.
Our experience of marching in the procession was deeply moving, as we felt a sense of connection to the centuries of Christians who have participated in this tradition. The cry of “Hosanna” echoed through the streets, reminding all of us of the power of our faith to provide salvation and redemption in times of trouble.
May we always remember the hope and promise of our faith, and may we continue to call out for salvation in times of need. Let us carry the message of the Palm Sunday procession with us, trusting in the love and grace of our Lord to guide us through any challenges that we may face.
About The Salvation Garden
Contact The Salvation Garden if you want to send a prayer to the Holy Land without traveling. We are a dedicated prayer community that constantly works to ensure that all prayers are hand delivered to the church of your choice in Jerusalem.
All you need to do is visit our website and fill out the your prayer request . Next, choose the holy site where we would deliver the prayer. We will also confirm with you once that we have received your prayer and send you pictures of your prayer at the site of miracles once it is delivered.
As you skim through the pages of travel glossies, surf the Internet or engage in animated conversations with your friends and family to select your next destination for religious succour, one name that crops up is: Jerusalem. This ancient city boasts of a concentration of holy sites that are of utmost significance to devout followers of Christianity. But if undertaking a pilgrimage acts as a deterrent or you are faced by other hurdles, consider sending a prayer request to these holy sites. Let us take a look at some of these places where you can Send a Prayer Request to Jerusalem.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as Holy Sepulchre, is believed to be the place where Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected. As early as the 2nd century, the hill where the church is located has been a site of worship; the first building that was built here was a temple dedicated to the worship of Aphrodite. One can see the Stone of Unction, which marks the spot where Jesus’s body was prepared for burial, the Angel’s Stone (a piece of the rock used to seal Christ’s tomb), and the tomb itself. The New Testament claims that Christ was crucified at Golgotha, the place of the skull. Constantine the Great constructed the first church on the site. Saint Helena, Constantine’s mother, discovered the relic of the “True Cross” of Christ’s Crucifixion in 326 C.E.
The visiting hours during April-September are between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. except on Sundays when it closes at 8 p.m.; one can visit the church from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. during October-March. You can avoid the long winding queue at the church by sending a prayer request.
Garden Tomb
The discovery of The Garden Tomb dates back to 1867. Some Christians consider the site to be an alternate location of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Garden is referred to in the Bible as Golgotha or “Calvary”, it comprises a rock formation similar to the shape of a skull. The site is an ideal choice for prayer and reflection. There are places for visitors to take rest, drinking water and other facilities, and wheelchair access. The site is of utmost importance to both Evangelical and Protestant Christians. The Tomb gained Biblical prominence when General Charles Gordon (also known as Gordon of Khartoum) discovered the site in 1883. According to archaeologists, the tombs can be traced back to the 7th to 5th centuries BCE. Visitors can explore the place throughout the week from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to noon and 2-5.30 p.m. Alternatively, you can send a prayer request.
Church of All Nations
In 1924, the Church of All Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony, was constructed on the remains of a 4th-century basilica and a chapel built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. The church is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem alongside the Garden of Gethsemane facing the walls of the Old City. The bubble-domed roof gives the structure a distinct Byzantine appearance. A magnificent mosaic spread across a row of Corinthian columns depicts Christ as an intermediary between God and humankind. The church marks the place where Christ prayed on a section of the bedrock in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of his arrest and crucifixion.
The site is open to visitors from 8 a.m. to noon and 2-6 p.m. Visiting hours are until 5 p.m. between October and March.
If time constraints or other factors act as a deterrent for you to physically visit the place, you can always send a prayer request to Jerusalem to this holy site.
Abbey of the Dormition
The name “Dormition” means “coma”, and the neo-Romanesque monastic church located on Mount Zion commemorates the Virgin Mary’s “eternal sleep” and ascension to heaven. In the early 20th century, the complex was constructed over the ruins of a Byzantine church; hence, it is also known as Hagia-Maria-Sion Abbey. In 1898, German emperor Wilhelm II built the church on a piece of land received from the Ottoman sultan during his visit to the Holy Land. In 1910, the church was inaugurated and stands out as a major landmark with its round shape, lead-covered conical roof, four turrets, and bell tower.
The site is open to visitors from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m on Working days.
Alternatively, you can always send a prayer request.
St. Peter’s Church
The church, built in 1931, is located on the eastern slope of Mount Zion outside the Old City of Jerusalem. The site is believed to be the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas and the place where Christ was arrested and imprisoned. It commemorates the triple denial of Christ’s apostle Peter, his repentance, and reconciliation with Jesus after the Resurrection. You can visit the church at the following times: from Mon-Fri: 8am to 11.45am, 3pm to 5pm. Sunday 3pm to 5pm.
Or send a prayer request online and we will deliver the prayer on your behalf.
