Mount of Olives: Garden, Churches, and the Tombs

Mount of Olives, one of three hills on a long ridge to the east of Jerusalem, is the location of many biblical events. On Day 2 of trip to Israel, we visited Mount of Olives and churches including Dome/Chapel of the Ascension, Dominus Flevit, Church of Pater Noster, Tomb of Prophets, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations and Mary’s Tomb.

Significance of Mount of Olives in The Bible

The daily route Jesus took in and out of the city passed over the Mount of Olives. From ancient times the revered rise overlooking Jerusalem from east was seen with importance.

The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge east of and adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City.

It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes.

The Mount has been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years and holds approximately 150,000 graves, making it central in the tradition of Jewish cemeteries.

 

There are totally 7 churches and thousands of tombs in the Mount of Olives and the view of Jerusalem old city from Mount of Olives is the best. When touring the Mount of Olives, it’s best to drive to the top and work your way down, since the climb from the lowest point to the top is quite steep.

The Mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament as part of the route from Jerusalem to Bethany and the place where Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem.

Christian Quarter to Jewish Quarter and then to Mount of Olives

We were up pretty early around 5 am and got ready for a busy day and was super excited to start our our first full day in Israel. We walked from our Airbnb in Christian Quarter to Jewish Quarter where our guide was waiting for us. Together, we then walked along the city walls, which was built on the foundations of the actual city wall of Jerusalem. Walking downhill, our guide Tova, told us lots of stories and history of Jerusalem and Israel. Upon reaching down to the main road between Mount of Olives and Jaffa Gate, we found a minivan taxi to drive up to the hill of Mount of Olives. Taxi ride was quite short, may be less than 10 minutes.

Walking along the city walls of Jerusalem towards the Mount of Olives from the Jewish Quarter

 

Walking over the City Walls from Jewish Quarter towards Mount of Olives, Jerusalem

 

Bicyclist riding along the road from Jewish Quarter

 

View of Temple Mount from the city wall along the Jaffa Gate

 

View of Mount of Olives from Old City

 

View of Mount of Olives from Kidron valley

 

Absolutely amazing Mount of Olives, which has very deep history

 

While walking along, we also couldn’t help but marvel the beauty of the Golden temple mount, which added beauty to the city almost from every view we walked.
Upon reaching the downhill slope of the old city wall, we took a mini-van cab all the way to the top of Mount of Olives. While driving up to the Mount of Olives, we could see plenty of tour buses on the slopes of Mount of Olives which signifies the importance of the place for visitors.

Chapel of the Ascension (Dome of Ascension)

 

Our first stop was at Chapel of the Ascension (Dome of Ascension), where Jesus ascended to heaven.

Situated at the highest point in Jerusalem, the small octagonal chapel has a distinctive dome and was constructed in 392AD; it marks the place where Jesus is thought to have ascended to heaven (Acts 7-11). A stone with an imbedded footprint is believed to be the footprint of Jesus as he stepped up to heaven.

Dome/Church/Chapel of the Ascension entrance

 

Millions of tourists enter every month in to Church of Ascension

 

Dome/Church of the Ascension

 

Inside the Church of the Ascension

 

Church of Ascension contains what is traditionally the last footprint of Jesus on earth before he ascended into heaven

 

Blessed to be at the Church of the Ascension

 

Roof of Dome/Church of the Ascension

 

Greek orthodox altar inside Church of Ascension

 

Syrian altar of Church of Ascension

 

Remains of Byzantine Church of Church of Ascension

 

Biblical References of Mount of Olives

Old Testament

Ezekiel 11:23 

The glory of the LORD went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it.

 

Zechariah 14:3-4

Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east

 

2 Samuel 15:30 

David went up the Mount of Olives, crying as he went. He covered his head and went barefoot. All the people with David covered their heads also and cried as they went.

New Testament

Luke 21:37  

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives

 

Matthew 24:1-14

As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his followers came up to show him the Temple’s buildings.

Jesus asked, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground” 

Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his followers came to be alone with him.

They said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that it is time for you to come again and for this age to end?” 

Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one fools you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will fool many people.

You will hear about wars and stories of wars that are coming, but don’t be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against other nations; kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms.

There will be times when there is no food for people to eat, and there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are like the first pains when something new is about to be born.”Then people will arrest you, hand you over to be hurt, and kill you.

They will hate you because you believe in me. At that time, many will lose their faith, and they will turn against each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe lies.

There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other. But those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved. The Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come.

Acts 1:9-11 

After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight. As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

Travel Tips

1. Highly encourage folks to get a taxi to go all the way to Church of Ascension and walk to Pater Noster, from there walk towards the vista point of the Old Jerusalem from Mount of Olives.  Then walk downhill through the tomb of prophets  to Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations and Tomb of Mary in that order.

2. There is an small ice cream shop just few minutes walk from Garden of Gethsamane for some refreshments

 

Entire Holy Land Trip Index

Trip to Israel as family was amazing. Getting to see the Holy Land which we have read and heard about since our childhood Bible story days is truly special indeed. We have put forth 50 detailed post on our DIY trip to Israel & Jordan.

Check out our entire 10 Day Trip Index of Holy Land. We would love to hear your feedback.

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