More than a million Christian visitors come to Israel each year, to visit the sacred sites, where pilgrims from all sections of Christianity can pray.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre: located in the Old City of Jerusalem and believed to be the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and burial, is one of the holiest sites in Christianity.
There are many other important Christian churches and sites in Jerusalem, though, some of which we will list here:
Cenacle: The Cenacle, which comes from the Latin word for supper “cena”, is located on Mount Sion and believed to be the site of Jesus’s Last Supper. The building on the site has changed many times, and a Gothic structure currently stands there.
Church of All Nations: Also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, this Roman Catholic church situated on the Mount of Olives contains a section of the bedrock where Jesus is believed to have prayed before his arrest. It sits near the Garden of Gethsemane, which is also an important Christian site.
Mary’s Tomb: The tomb believed by Eastern Christians to house the Virgin Mary is located in the Kidron Valley at the foothills of the Mount of Olives. It is very close to the Church of All Nations.
Church of the Pater Noster: This Roman Catholic church on the Mount of Olives is located on the site of Jesus’s teaching of the Lord’s Prayer.
The original 4th century basilica on the site was designed by the Emperor Constantine I and built under the direction of his mother, Helena.
Ecce Homo Church: Part of the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, this church contains an arch that was part of a Roman gateway. It is believed to be the site of Jesus’s trail by Pontius Pilate and of Pilate’s Ecce Homo speech. Archaeological evidence has proved otherwise, however.
Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross: This Roman Catholic church, which also contains the Church of the Flagellation, is located in the Old City. It is traditionally believed to mark the site where Jesus was condemned to crucifixion and took up his cross. A Byzantine church originally stood on the site, which was later converted into a mosque before being restored to a Catholic church in the early 20th century - a desired destination for pilgrims.
