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Tag: Jerusalem

The Palm Sunday Processional

Posted on by Elenie

Calling out Hosanna In the Holy Land

 

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.

 

Rare Visit and Prayer Request at The Monastery on Top of Mount of Olives

Posted on by Elenie

Rare Visit and Prayer Request at The Monastery on Top of Mount of Olives

Very few people had ever entered this holy site, which stands on the top of the Mount of Olives for over 125 years. Finally, under rare circumstances, we are honored to share with you photos and impressions from the inside of this ancient monastery. Delivering an urgent prayer request at the heart of the Holy Land brings heartwarming and blissful moments.

The Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives stands east of the old city of Jerusalem and at 826 meters above see level, it is higher. The mount has served as a cemetery of over 3,000 years. It is the exact location where Jesus ascended to heaven. As such, this holy site has been a place of worship since ancient times and Christians from all over the world view it as a major site of pilgrimage.

Jerusalem Old City view from the Mount of Olives - prayer request
Jerusalem Old City View from the Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives is named after the olive groves that used to cover it. Today, there are just a few last remaining olive trees still nurtured. But they are hidden and inaccessible behind the walls of the oldest monastery on the mountain, which rarely opens its doors.

The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters

Since October 1896, over 125 years ago, a lone contemplative monastery stands on the top of the mountain. This is the home of the Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Calvary. The first seven sisters came to Jerusalem from France and until today French is the common language. These days, five sisters live in the monastery, all of them for over 20 years, rarely exiting the old walls surrounding the place.

Always Closed - The Gate of The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters
Always Closed – The Gate of The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters

Except for urgent medical care, the sisters do not leave the monastery. And apart for an annual visit of pilgrims from Italy, no visitors enter the monastery. The Benedictine monastery stands like a time capsule in the heart of Jerusalem.

Inside The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters - Prayer Request
Inside The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters

The sisters devote their time to prayers, contemplation, and to their expertise – writing beautiful Christian iconography (and they insist that they write and not paint this magnificent art).

Christian iconography at The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters
Christian iconography at The Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters

Prayer Request at the Monastery

This year, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the annual visit of pilgrims did not happen, for the first time in many years. The sisters count on these visitors to help with picking the olives and paying a humble donation. This is the main source of income for the monastery.

The Chapelle of The Monastery
The Chapelle of The Monastery

And thus, under these rare circumstances, very few visitors from Israel were allowed into the monastery. All were Israeli volunteers who came to help with the olives. Among them, a delegate from The Salvation Garden was invited as well, to help with the olives and deliver an urgent prayer request at this holy site.

The Last Olive Trees on the Mount of Olives, behind it the Monastery
The Last Olive Trees on the Mount of Olives, behind it the Monastery

Olive Oil from the Mount of Olives

We’re thrilled to update that a close friendship was founded, with hopes for future visits as well. Also, we purchased the rarest of all olive oil. The only olive oil in the world made out of olives from the Mount of Olives. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Olive Oil from The Last Olive Trees on the Mount of Olives
Olive Oil from The Last Olive Trees on the Mount of Olives

While we can’t promise to deliver your prayer request at this specific holy site, since it is closed to visitors most of the year, we do visit regularly the holy churches of Jerusalem. For an urgent prayer request, we even hurry to pray for you within 24 hours.

Please click here to fill your own prayer request for the churches of the Holy Land

The Evangelical Church of Ascension in Jerusalem

Posted on by Elenie

Prayer Request at The Evangelical Church of Ascension

Upon delivering an urgent prayer request, submitted online by one of The Salvation Garden’s community members, we visited a phenomenal holy site.

In the heart of the Holy Land, in the Eastern part of Jerusalem, stands the Mount of Olives, the exact place from which Jesus ascended to heaven.

Over  130 years ago, in 1898, The German Emperor Wilhelm II visited the Mount of Olives, gasped in the magnificent view of the Old City, and decided to build a hospice. He honored his wife and named the place after here. Until these days, this is location of the Augusta Victoria Hospital.

Augusta Victoria Bell Tower Prayer Request

The Highest Bell Tower around Jerusalem

Inside the hospital compounds stands a glorious church which resembles a German fort, with a 45 meters high bell tower and a great hall.  At 850 meters above sea level and about 1,300 meters above the Dead Sea, anyone visiting Jerusalem notices the Augusta Victoria tower.

After climbing about 230 stairs, the views from the top of the tower were breathtaking. Looking at the ancient Old City of Jerusalem from above, one can see all the great churches, the big wall and the entire city.

View from Augusta Victoria Bell Tower

Praying for You at Augusta Victoria

To deliver the urgent prayer request we also entered the great hall of the church. Sadly, during our visit the church has marked nearly a full year of closure, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The wonderful mosaics, the amazing ceiling and the huge organ – all were left unseen and untouched for long months. We were honored to walk the isles and speak our prayers softly.

While we would love to deliver more prayer requests at the Augusta Victoria church, it is quite remote and closed most of the time. Yet sometimes we get a special request like this one, who wanted us to pray at the site of ascension, where Jesus ascended to heaven.

Evangelical Church of Ascension Prayer Request

Looking up, the ceiling of the church is so beautiful and powerful. Looking forward, towards the location of Ascension, the marble work is astonishing. And on the left side, almost hidden, stands the Altar from the Schneller Syrian Orphanage, dated 1910.

Augusta Victoria Altar Prayer Request

Prayer Request Under This Ceiling

After prayer, raising our eyes, you can’t stop looking at this ceiling.

Request a Prayer at Augusta Victoria Jerusalem Church - Ceiling

Wish you could have been here with us, praying together for better times. The team of The Salvation Garden will continue to go anywhere our praying members ask us, all with sincere love from the Holy Land.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

 

Jerusalem and It’s Holy Sites

Posted on by Elenie

Jerusalem and It’s Holy Sites

If you have reached the crossroads of your life and feel the need for divine intervention or your worn out soul seeks solace, try walking down the prayer request route.

As you scan the map to zero in on a place of your choice, try considering Jerusalem and its holy sites for your communion with the Supreme Power. If your busy schedule does not allow you to travel, you can opt for sending a prayer request sitting in the confines of your home or workplace. Read on to know more about the holy sites where you can send a prayer request to Jerusalem.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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. You can send a request for a prayer to this revered site and seek Christ’s blessings for you and your loved ones.

Send your prayer to the Holy Sepulchre

Garden Tomb

The Garden Tomb

The Garden Tomb is located outside the city walls of Jerusalem; its proximity lies close to the Damascus Gate. Popular belief suggests that the site, also known as Gordon’s Calvary, was the place of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Although the tomb was discovered in 1867, archaeologists have traced its origins to 9th-7th BC, corresponding with the era of the Old Testament. The scriptures mention “Golgotha,” which means “skull’ in Aramaic, as the site of Christ’s crucifixion. Visitors can explore the place Monday to Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Alternatively, you can send a prayer request.

Send your prayer to the Garden Tomb

Church of All Nations

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.
One can visit the site from 8 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. During October to March, the visiting hours in the afternoon are restricted till 5 p.m. If time constraints or other factors are a hindrance for you to physically visit the place, you can always send a prayer request to Jerusalem to this site of holy prominence.

Send your prayer to Church of All Nations​

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. If you wish to seek divine blessings but avoid the hassle of remembering the different visiting hours, you can send a prayer request to Jerusalem.

Send your prayer to Abbey of the Dormition

St. Peter’s Church

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 from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or send a prayer request.

Send your prayer to St. Peter’s Church

The History of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church

Posted on by Elenie

Send Prayer Request Online at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The History of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church

Send your personal prayer request online to the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was buried and resurrected. Our volunteers will carry your prayer and pray there.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is also called the Church of the Resurrection or Church of the Anastasis by Orthodox Christians

The Holy Sepulchre and Church History

“And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,” (Matthew 27:33)

Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, known in the New Testament (Matt. 27:33–35; Mark 15:22–25; John 19:17–24) as “the place of the skull”. This location lay outside the perimeter of the city walls at the time and was an abandoned stone quarry.

Around a decade later, a wall was built which enclosed the site inside what we know today as Jerusalem’s Old City.

Stone of Anointing (Stone of Unction)

Stone of Anointing

Another point of interest inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the so-called Stone of Unction, which was the spot where Joseph of Arimathea prepared Jesus for Burial.

It is customary for pilgrims to kneel and kiss the stone on their arrival at this location within the church. This tradition stems from John 19:40:

“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury”.

The kneeling action is also represented in the large mosaic above the Stone of Unction, which depicts subjects kneeling alongside the stone.

How was it discovered?

The tomb itself was discovered in the process of building a church ordered by Roman Emperor Constantine I. This then became the first Church of the Holy Sepulchre which could be accessed by a set of steps which rose from one of Jerusalem’s main streets.

Early pilgrims would have walked through a basilica and the ‘holy garden which contained ‘the rock of Golgotha, before reaching the Holy Sepulchre.

The Church starts to form around the Stone of Anointing

A small building was built around the tomb, which was originally exposed. The relic of the cross of Jesus, another important feature of the church, is said to have been discovered by Saint Helena, Constantine’s mother, in 326.

In the 11th century, the Chapel of the Invention of the Cross was founded, in a cave deep beneath the basilica’s ruins, which is still present today.

A number of destructions and restructurings have taken place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including a 614 ransacking by a Persian Army, a 966 fire which destroyed the dome in anti-Christian riots, and a complete dismantling by fanatical Arab leader Fatimid caliph al-Hakim in 1009.

After being rebuilt by Constantine IX Monomachus, the Byzantine emperor – after the first Crusade, ending in 1099, freed it up as a place of worship – it was reconsecrated 50 years later to the day. While work has been carried out periodically over the years, the post-Crusade Church of the Holy Sepulchre is much like the one which stands today.

Today pilgrims often light a candle, make a prayer or take part in a procession around the site. The experience is very emotional for some, evocative for others, and gives Christians the chance to communicate with God and ask for what is in their hearts. For those who are far away, we are offering the pilgrims experience as an online option.

How Can The Salvation Garden Help You?

The Salvation Garden believes that every believer in the world should be easily able to access the holy places of the Holy Land. We want to assist you in achieving success in your spiritual and material life.

Those who are unable to make it to these pilgrimage sites, we volunteer to carry your prayers to one of the holiest sites in these lands.

Click here to fill the online prayer request form with your personal prayer. Choose the Church of Holy Sepulcher or multiple holy churches and holy places in the Holy Land.

We will visit those holy places and personally deliver your printed prayer request. You will get the delivery confirmation from us to your email and an optional video.

We also deliver your urgent prayer request to the Holy Land. While our service comes free, your donations help us with our travel, printing, security, and other expenses.

What do we know about resurrection?

Posted on by Elenie

What Do We Know About Resurrection?

When thinking about resurrection in Christianity, the first thing that comes to most of the believers’ minds are the events that happened in Jerusalem around 30-33 AD.

The Christian belief that Jesus will return and bring His followers back to life stems from extensive accounts,

  • found in the Four Gospels of the New Testament, about the resurrection of Christ that happened three days after His crucifixion and burial.
  • The gospels’ narratives of many incidents where Jesus appeared to over 500 people in the 40 days after His death
  • The events of nine other resurrections with eyewitness accounts.

 

The opponents say

Over the years, many theories have surfaced because of some inconsistencies in the accounts, such as beliefs that

  • – Jesus had only temporarily lost consciousness, or
  • – the Apostles had stolen His body from the grave, but these theories are easily disputed by the overwhelming abundance of matching events in the gospels, which assert the belief of Jesus being resurrected.

 

What that matter is…

In the end, despite the ongoing efforts of scientist and historians to find factual information, it’s not really a matter of proving or disproving the event, because it transcends these matters with its meaning.

Resurrection is not only a testament to God’s power over life and death but:

– A symbol of the unification of body and soul.

– An example of justice and salvation for those who had humbled themselves and followed God’s word.

Ultimately, it means the unification of Christ and His followers.


Request Your Prayer Now

Where was Jesus for three days?

Posted on by Elenie

Where was Jesus for three days?

Or should we start with the question – what happened to Jesus while he was dead?

The Bible is not clear or rather does not give a chronology of events, of what happened to Jesus after his death and before the resurrection. This article will attempt, using biblical records, to look at what happened during those days.

Paradise and spiritual beings

Jesus Christ headed His spirit to the Father, died physically, and entered paradise,

“Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

However, at some time between His death and resurrection, it is recorded that Jesus Christ also visited a place where He delivered a message to spirit beings. This might have been fallen angels, according to Jude 1:6.

“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day”

Records also show that these beings were somehow also related to the period before Noah’s time, according to 1st Peter 3:20

“to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built”

Peter does not, however, tell us what Jesus Christ said to the fallen angels, but this could not have been a message of salvation. According to Hebrews 2:16 “For surely it is not angels he helps,” to say that angels can’t be saved.  But as recorded in 1st Peter 3:22 “who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” and Colossians 2:15,

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”.

He might have declared His victory over Satan.

The Captives and the Saints

According to Ephesians 4:8-10, and quoting Psalms 68:18, Paul says that “when He ascended on high, he took many captives”. This may mean that Jesus gathered all the redeemed who were there and took them to their permanent dwelling in heaven.

Jesus had supported the saints and brought them to their eternal home. It is during this period that he also proclaimed victory over the fallen angels who are in prison.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

JESUS AND THE IMPORTANCE HE SAW IN RESURRECTION

Posted on by Elenie

JESUS AND THE IMPORTANCE HE SAW IN RESURRECTION

Jesus knew he had to be in Jerusalem, he knew he must be killed and resurrect. In this article, we will review the events.

Most of our knowledge about Jesus comes from the apostles and therefore we are bringing here the highlights.

Jesus is giving his disciples a detailed review of the upcoming events:

According to the book of Matthew:

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life”. (16:21)

After the crucifixion – Jesus was crucified and died at noon. Upon his death, an earthquake struck the area:

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city,” (27:52-53)

Joseph of Arimathea was keen to ensure that the corpse was buried according to the Jewish law, put the body in a new shroud and buried his body in the tomb just before sunset (27:57-60).

Women who followed Jesus had carried and prepared spices for anointing the body of Jesus Christ, and before they went to rest on the weekly Sabbath day, they made sure his tomb was sealed.

“And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher” (27:61)

The Resurrection

Then the body of Jesus Christ was in the tomb for three days and nights, and near sunset, he rose with the promise of bringing salvation to humankind.

The women that prepared the spices arrived early in the morning and found that Jesus had already risen,

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified” (28:5).

Jesus met his eleven disciples and sent them to us, to the world, with his promise

“I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (28:19)

With these last words, we have the legacy of Jesus regarding our Salvation and his all-time presence.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

A Short one: On Jerusalem in the eye of Christianity

Posted on by Elenie

A Short one: On Jerusalem in the eye of Christianity

A Short one: On Jerusalem in the eye of Christianity

Jerusalem: the Holy City

According to Zechariah, the Lord promised to protect Jerusalem, to make it an ‘immovable rock for all the nations’ and to ‘shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David’.
This, coupled with Luke 24:47:’and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’ has led Christians to believe that salvation of the Earth will begin in the Holy City.

Is it still a significant place?

Yes, Because of this belief, and because Christ died and was resurrected in the city, Jerusalem has become one of the most significant places on Earth for Christians.

Each year, millions of Christians make the pilgrimage to the empty prayer of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the city to pray. They are seeking solace and redemption in the process.

Many also wish to be buried there, as they believe that the Last Judgment will take place in Jerusalem.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

How did painters of the renaissance see Mother Mary?

Posted on by Elenie

How did painters of the renaissance see Mother Mary?

How did painters of the renaissance see Mother Mary

We can find in Art pieces of evidence about the spiritual life in a certain time and place. In this article, we will explore Mother Mary’s figure during the renaissance in Europe.

The Mother Mary depicted alone or with the Baby Jesus, is a common feature of the art which characterized Renaissance culture, from the 14th Century to the 17th Century in Europe.

​​Click here to Fill the online prayer request form below with your personal prayer and choose a church or multiple churches in the Holy Land from our website. Our volunteers will carry your prayer to the chosen church and holy site(s) and pray there.

Representing figure

This kind of representation is often used in the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

Sometimes it is referred to as a ‘Madonna’, coming from the Italian ‘ma donna’ or ‘my lady’ in English.

Many pictures and statues, particularly as part of the Italian Renaissance, depict the Mother Mary.

It is not uncommon to find saints and angels depicted to the sides of the Mother Mary, who is the central figure. Many artworks and 3D depictions refer to scenes from the life of the Mother Mary.

The Painters

Many of the artists known as the Masters of the Renaissance period chose the Mother Mary as the main subject of their works, including Michelangelo, Giovanni Bellini, Leonardo da Vinci, Duccio, Raphael, Rubens, and Caravaggio.

The Sistine Madonna by Raphael is perhaps the most famous depiction of the Mother Mary. It was originally painted for the San Sisto Church in Piacenza.

The influence of the paintings

These works typically depict Mother Mary expressing compassion and love – there is certainly a current of emotion which can be seen in the best Madonnas.

Some of the works produced in the Renaissance period are considered sacred and were instrumental in the careers of the artists themselves. Other subjects from the Old Testament are featured in the landscape of Renaissance art, but the Mother Mary is certainly one of the most popular and important subjects chosen in this period.

How Can The Salvation Garden Help You?

The Salvation Garden believes that every believer in the world should be easily able to access the holy places of the Holy Land. We want to assist you in achieving success in your spiritual and material life.

Those who are unable to make it to these pilgrimage sites, we volunteer to carry your prayers to one of the holiest sites in these lands.

Fill the online prayer request form below with your personal prayer and choose a church or multiple churches in the Holy Land from our website.

We will visit those holy places and personally deliver your printed prayer request. You will get the delivery confirmation from us to your email and an optional video.

We also deliver your urgent prayer request to the Holy Land. While our service comes free, your donations help us with our travel, printing, security, and other expenses.

The Stone of the Anointing

Posted on by Elenie

The Stone of the Anointing

The Stone of the Anointing

The Stone of the Anointing is also often called the Stone of Unction. It can be found just inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains the two most holy Christian sites in Jerusalem, Calvary where Jesus was crucified and the Stone of the Anointing where his body was prepared for burial by anointing and being wrapped in cloth.

Importance to Christians

The Stone of the Anointing is of enormous importance to Christians across the world as it was here that Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the newly risen Jesus. She didn’t realize it was him and thought she was speaking to a stranger when she said:

“They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where to find him.”

For Christians, this is the most important event in the history of mankind, as it is when death was conquered by Jesus and from that moment on his believers felt they too could defeat death and experience eternal life. The importance of this event is reflected in the importance of the Stone of the Anointing.

History

Most historians are in agreement that the Stone of the Anointing is the place where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial. Because of this, the stone itself and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are very popular destinations for pilgrims and they have been the scenes of some difficult times throughout history.

The Roman Emperor Hadrian didn’t want a site of such significance to be available to Christians, so he built a temple to the goddess Venus over the holy site in the 2nd Century AD. Around 325 AD the Roman empire had its first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, who oversaw the replacement of the temple by a church.

In 630 AD this church was damaged by a Persian attack and a difficult history of earthquakes, fires and repairs followed.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was totally reconstructed in 1810 and it was at this time that the current Stone of the Anointing was placed where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.

What people do there today

The Stone of the Anointing remains a very holy pilgrimage site for Christians today. Pilgrims queue to either kiss the stone or rub it with oil or rosewater and then wipe it with a cloth. Priests burn incense around the stone and sometimes people place their own crosses on it in order to transfer the unction or anointing.

Rosewater

Rosewater is used to anoint the Stone of the Anointing because it is a perfume that has traditional use in a number of religions. For example, during Muslim burials rosewater is sprinkled into a grave before burial. Rosewater has in the past been used for the embalming of bodies as it has properties that are good for the skin.

Visitors to the Stone of the Anointing

Over hundreds of years, there have been stories of miracles and cures experienced by people who have visited and anointed the Stone of the Anointing. The atmosphere in the Church of the Sepulchre is one of reverence and worship. This is clearly one of the holiest places and somewhere that each and every one of us should consider visiting during our lifetimes.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Where are The Churches of Mother Mary in the Holy Land?

Posted on by Elenie

Where are The Churches of Mother Mary in the Holy Land?

Mother Mary’s journeys had a great impact on Jesus, but while we can find many sites related to his footsteps, what do we know about hers? Here are some highlights on Mother Mary’s main stations in life and the Churches we can visit today.

There are several holy sites in today’s Israel, which are sacred to Christians all over the world. Some of them are churches pertaining to the Mother Mary.

In the North

The Church of the Annunciation, sometimes known as the Basilica of the Annunciation, is a place of worship in the northern Israeli town of Nazareth. The Annunciation happened there, while Mary was taking water from a spring. Therefore the site features the Grotto of the Annunciation, and some say that Mary’s childhood home was in that cave. Today, there is a modern 20th-century church with two stories at the site. The first shrine at the Church of the Annunciation is said to date back to the 4th century.

In Jerusalem

The Church of the Assumption which is dated back to the 5th century is also located in Holy Land. According to the Christian tradition, Mary’s Tomb is found in this church. The church is at the bottom of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. There is also a niche which is dedicated to St. Joseph, Mary’s husband. The church is located in Jerusalem’s Old City Walls; not far from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. To the right of the church is a passageway which leads to the Grotto of Gethsemane, which is the site where Jesus gave his last lessons to his disciples.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Send your prayer request to The Holy Churches of Jerusalem

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