Must-see Christian sites in the Holy Land

As Israel prepares to welcome Pope Benedict XVI in his historic visit to the Holy Land, it’s perhaps time for a quick rundown of the top Christian sites in the Holy Land. Yes, Israel might be the Jewish homeland, but the Christian faith has remained tied to the Holy Land for over 2000 years, thanks to the tales of a certain Jesus of Nazareth. Whatever your faith, there are some awe-inspiring, must-see Christian sites in Israel and they are all well worth checking out.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth

Bethlehem is known to Christians throughout the world as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth. Bethlehem is in fact home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, even if its numbers are dwindling. The must-see place to see in Bethlehem is the Church of the Nativity, probably the world’s most important Christian site and one of the world’s oldest operating churches. And definitely the place to go if you want to spend Christmas in the Holy Land.

The exact site of Jesus’ birth is in an underground grotto beneath the Church, marked by a 14 pointed star set in the ground. If you hit peak tourist season, you might just get overwhelmed by the intensity and passion from some Christian pilgrims as they kneel down to get a little closer to that magical star…

Little known fact about Bethlehem: it has major importance for all three major faiths - as well as its being probably the most important Christian site in Israel, Muslims believe Bethlehem was a major prayer stop on the Prophet Muhammad’s way to Jerusalem, while Jews recognize the gravesite of the biblical martriarch Rachel in Bethlehem, the 3rd most important site in the Jewish faith.

Bethlehem is fairly easy to get to as a tourist, especially if you get hooked up with a tour agency. You could always get there yourself, but the security checkpoints between Jerusalem and Bethlehem (some 5.5 miles separate the two) don’t make it an easy option.

Jerusalem

You’ll probably want to spend some time in Jerusalem as it has some of the holiest sites for all three of the major religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. We highly recommend any visit to Israel includes the Old City in Jerusalem - it’s one place where you could end up overstaying, there’s just so much to see! The major Christian sites you’ll want to catch in Jerusalem, both within and beyond the Old City are the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the Church of All Nations.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and hence regarded as one of the most important Christian sites in Israel. It’s an impressive looking Church on the inside (nice 3D of the inside here), perhaps less so from the outside as it’s wedged inbetween other buildings. The various sites throughout the Church mark various spots in Jesus’ final hours and in his death. If my Israeli-born wife was impressed, you can be assured it’s one fine, emotionally moving place to visit. Free entry and open to all faiths, it’s open from morning til night most days.

The Church of All Nations (nice 3D panoramic view of the inside of the Church here), along with the adjoining Garden of Gethsamane, is located at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. Here, Jesus is believed to have conducted his last prayers before being betrayed by Judas and then captured by the Romans. The Garden of Gethsemane, which is right next to the Church of All Nations, is believed to have been a garden even in Jesus’ time and is a lovely, tranquil spot. It is here that Jesus and the Disciples came after the Last Supper, and here where Jesus gave his last sermon.

The Church of St. John the Baptist is located in the gorgeous hillside neighbourhood of Ein Kerem, a short drive out of Jerusalem city center. This church marks the birthplace of St. John, who is best known for baptizing Jesus. The church itself lies in beautiful, peaceful surroundings and is well worth the ride out of the bustling city center.

Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus

Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel with a population of over 60,000, of which some 31 percent are Christians. Since Jesus spent much of his childhood here, Nazareth has ever since been closely associated with Christianity and attracted many pilgrims throughout the last two thousand years. The standout site in Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest Christian church building in the Middle East, dedicated in 1964 on another Papal visit, this time by Pope Paul VI.

There are a number of additional Christian sites in Nazareth well worth a visit, including the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel (built over the freshwater spring known as “Marys Well”), the Greek Catholic “Synagogue Church” (site of the synagogue where a young Jesus was taught, and where he later preached), and the Church of St. Joseph (built over a cave identified as the “workshop” of Jesus’ father Joseph).

Here’s a nice little clip of Nazareth that might whet your appetite for more…

“The town of Jesus”, Capernaum

Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the small town of Capernaum (or Kfar Nahum in Hebrew) is another of the important Christian sites in Israel you should visit. It is mentioned several times in the Bible because Jesus lived here for some time and was in charge of the ministry there. There are several chuches here that celebrate the life of Jesus, including the Church of the House of St. Peter , a large house of several rooms and a courtyard that Jesus chose as his home, and the Synagogue, where Jesus often preached and performed miracles: both these locations have been restored and converted into a museum (3 shekel entrance fee).

“They went as far as Capharnaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.”

Capernaum can be easily reached from other tourist sites, such as Nazareth and Tiberias by bus or by car.

Tabgha

Tabgha (known as Ein Sheva in Hebrew) is located on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee and is the traditional site of the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish (marked today by the Church of the Multiplication). It is also believed to be the place of the sighting of Jesus’ third resurrection appearance (marked by the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter), where Jesus conferred authority of the church to Simon Peter.

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.” (Mark 6:41)

Tabgha is fairly easy to get to, being some 2.5 kilometers south of Capernaum, and just 12 kilometers north of Tiberias.

Bethsaida

Located just north of the Sea of Galilee, where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee, Bethsaida is perhaps one of the lesser known Christian sites in Israel, but well worth seeing if you’re interested in revisiting the sites of miracles: it is here Jesus is believed to have healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26). Bethsaida is also known as the birthplace of three of the Apostles, Peter, Andrew and Philip. Recently rediscovered, there is some dispute as to its exact location but the site known as Bethsaida, or et-Tel, has a lot to offer archeological fans over its 21 acre site: there is even an old cobbled street from the days of Jesus.