Christian Holy Places

Basilica of the Annunciation (Nazareth) The architect conceived a plan of two churches, one above the other, and interconnected the lower or crypt on the level of the former churches, and the upper church. The lower preserves the Holy Grottos and the remains of the Byzantine and Crusader churches.  Read more                                                                                              The Cenacle and the tomb of David (Jerusalem) Both the cenacle and the tomb of David are located in the same building.The Franciscans bought it in 1335 and gave it its present form. In the beginning of the 15th century, Jews attempted to purchase the building.1 Read more     Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem) Here Jesus was crucified, entombed and resurrected. The round place under the domed roof that contains the sepulcher itself is, undoubtedly, the most important element of the whole complex and one of the most holy places for the Christian world.  Read more     The Church of the Multiplication (Tabgha) The miracle performed at Tabgha was the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, when Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes (Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44).  Read more     Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem) The church was completely destroyed in the Samaritans Revolt of 529. The present Church of the Nativity is one of the earliest Christian structures.  Read more   Church of the Sermon on the Mount - Mount of Beatitudes The octagonal shape of the church commemorates the eight Beatitudes. The mosaic floor is decorated with symbols of the seven virtues of man referred to in the sermon.  Read more     Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (Jerusalem) The Assumptionist Fathers constructed this church, pleasantly modern in appearance, in the 1930’s. Beneath the church are a series of rock-cut structures, cellars, cisterns, stables dating to the Herodian period (37BCE-70CE).  Read more   Church of St Peter (Tabgha)   The miracle event believed to have occurred at Tabgha is the third appearance of Jesus after his death, as related in John 21:4-17. The church, which commemorates those events, is called both St Peter and the Chapel of the Primacy.  Read more   Dominus Flevit - The Lord Wept (Jerusalem)   Dominus Flevit Church is on the Mount of Olives. The church name is Latin for "The Lord Wept". Here, according to Christian tradition, Jesus cried when he arrived in Jerusalem, predicting the destruction of the temple (Luke 19:41-44).  Read more   Dormition Abbey (Jerusalem)   On Mount Zion you will notice a big octagonal church ascending from between the walls; Dormition Abbey. This church is a landmark of the city, and is the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have died, or fell into 'eternal sleep'.  Read more    Gethsemane & Church of all Nations (Jerusalem)   Gethsemane (in Hebrew "gat semani" means "olive press") holds an important place in the Gospels, since Jesus spent there the night before his arrest after sharing his last supper with his disciples.   Read more   Heptapegon (Tabgha)   Two miles west of Capernaum lies what Josephus referred to as the "well of Capernaum". The name derives from the Greek word Heptapegon what means "the place of seven springs"; the name was later corrupted in Arabic into Tabgha.  Read more   Kfar Nahum (Capernaum)   Jesus preached at the synagogue of Capernaum and here he healed various people: a man possessed by the devil, Simon's mother in-law, a paralytic, and eventually many of the sick and possessed of the town (Mark 1:21-34).  Read more    Via Dolorosa in Pictures (Jerusalem)   Via Dolorosa, "The Path of Sorrow" is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem. Traditionally, it is held to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion, although this is uncertain.   See more