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"The Visitation Church"
Ein Karem, Jerusalem

Tuesday, ‎December ‎24, ‎2013

Fourth Day of my Holy Land Trip, Mount Zion, Jerusalem

My Holy Land Trip

"The Visitation Church"

Ein Karem, Jerusalem

The Church of the Visitation honors the visit paid by Mary, Jesus' mother, to Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother. (Luke 1:39-56) This is the site where tradition tells us that Mary recited her song of praise, the Magnificent, one of the most ancient hymns to Mary. The church is beautifully adorned with tiled representations of that canticle in many of the world’s languages.

The Visitation Church:

The Franciscan Visitation church in the village of Ein Kerem (Karem), on the west side of Jerusalem, is named after Virgin Mary's visited to the summer house of the parents of John the Baptist. Ein Karem is according to tradition the birthplace of John the Baptist.

Steps from Mary’s spring to Visitation Church:

According to Christian tradition, the village was a summer house for Zacharias and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist. The village was called "city of Juda" in the description of the visit by Luke.

Elizabeth (Elisheva) was the cousin of Mary, mother of Jesus. As per Luke, Mary visited Elizabeth when both were pregnant (hence the name - Church of visitation). During the visit, the baby leapt with joy in Elizabeth's womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, knowing Mary that she is about to give birth to the son of God. Mary then stayed with her cousin for 3 months until John was born.

John is an important figure in Christianity, and regarded as the "forerunner" - since John Baptized Jesus,  and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. 

A view from Ein Karem:

The visitation church is located on a southern hill above Ein Kerem. A path leads from the valley, near Mary's spring, to the church. The photo below shows a view of the path. The walls of the church are seen on the right side. On the sunny side of the center of the village of Ein Kerem is the church of St. John with its high bell tower.

Valley of Ein Karem:

The visit of Virgin Mary to the house of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, in Ein Kerem ("city of Juda").

"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house".

The way to Visitation church, village of Ein Karem, on the west of Jerusalem:

The present structure is the older of two churches located at Ein Karem, in present day Israel. Tradition attributes its construction to Empress Helena of Constantinople, Constantine I's mother, who identified the site as the home of Zechariah and the place where he and Elizabeth hid from Herod's soldiers.

On the side wall of The Visitation church in the village of Ein Karem:

Later, Christian Crusaders also recognized it as the site where the meeting between Elizabeth and her cousin Mary took place, and erected a two-story church on the site of the ancient ruins. When the Crusaders left the Holy Land, the church fell into Muslim hands and gradually deteriorated.

An ancient cistern from which, according to tradition, Zechariah and Elizabeth drank, can also be found in the church; the stone next to it is said to have hid the two from Herod's soldiers. The upper hall is dedicated to Mary, and its walls are decorated with paintings in honor of her. Verses from the Magnificent are engraved on the columns of the church, and on the wall opposite it are forty-two ceramic tablets bearing verses from the Magnificent in forty-two different languages. On the church's facade is a striking mosaic commemorating the Visitation.

On the right side of the altar, is a tunnel that leads to an ancient well. From this well, as per the tradition, John and his parents drank from the water:

The Franciscans purchased the building in 1679, but only began reconstruction of the lower level of the church in 1862. Design and construction of the upper level of the structure began in 1938, and was completed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi in 1955. The interior of the church holds Italianate frescoes depicting the Visitation, Elizabeth hiding her son John the Baptist, and Zechariah next to the altar in the temple. Also preserved are remains of the ancient church and beautiful mosaic floors. The church is currently held in trust by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.

Altar in the Church of the Visitation, Ein Kerem:

John is described as having the unique practice of baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Most scholars agree that John baptized Jesus. Scholars generally believe Jesus was a follower or disciple of John and several New Testament accounts report that some of Jesus's early followers had previously been followers of John. John the Baptist is also mentioned by Jewish historian Josephus. Some scholars maintain that John was influenced by the semi-ascetic Essene, who expected an apocalypse and practiced rituals corresponding strongly with baptism, although no direct evidence substantiates this.

Around the Church of the Visitation:

According to the New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself, and Jesus was the one whose coming John foretold. Christians commonly refer to John as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus, since John announces Jesus' coming. John is also identified with the prophet Elijah.

Around the Church of the Visitation:

The Gospel of Mark begins with a verse from Malachi and a quotation from Isaiah speaking of a voice of one "crying aloud in the wilderness". John the Baptist is described as wearing clothes of camel's hair, living on locusts and wild honey.

Mark describes John's proclamation of baptism for the forgiveness of sin. Mark also describes John as preaching a future leader who "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit".

Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan, whereupon the heavens were seen to split open and the Spirit to come down on him like a dove, and from the heavens came a voice — “Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased."

Around the Church of the Visitation:

In Mark 1:14 it is mentioned that John has been imprisoned.

In the gospel account of John's death, Herod has John imprisoned for denouncing his incestuous marriage, and later executes John by beheading. John condemned Herod for marrying Herodias (who was not only his Brother Philip's former wife but also Herod's niece) in violation of Old Testament law. Later Herodias's daughter (traditionally thought to be Salome, who was both Herod's grand-niece and stepdaughter) dances before Herod, who offers her a favor in return. Herodias tells her to ask for the head of John the Baptist, which is delivered to her on a plate (Mark 6:14-29).

Around the Church of the Visitation:

The Gospel of Luke includes an account of John's infancy, introducing him as the son of Zechariah (or Zacharias), an old man, and his wife Elizabeth (Elisabeth), who was barren. According to this account, the birth of John was foretold by the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, while Zechariah was performing his functions as a priest in the temple of Jerusalem. Since Zechariah is described as a priest of the course of Abijah and his wife, Elizabeth, as one of the daughters of Aaron, this would make John a descendant of Aaron on both his father's and mother's side.

There is no mention of a family relationship between John and Jesus in the other Gospels, and the scholar Raymond E. Brown has described it as "of dubious historicity".Géza Vermes has called it "artificial and undoubtedly Luke's creation". On the basis of the account in Luke, the Catholic calendar placed the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist on June 24, six months before Christmas.

The many similarities between the Gospel of Luke story of the birth of John and the Old Testament account of the birth of Samuel have led scholars to suggest that Luke's account of the annunciation and birth of Jesus are modeled on that of Samuel.

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"Mary's spring"
Ein Karem, Jerusalem

Tuesday, ‎December ‎24, ‎2013

Fourth Day of my Holy Land Trip, Mount Zion, Jerusalem

My Holy Land Trip

"Mary's spring"

Ein Karem, Jerusalem

Scenes of the way to Ein Karem:

Separation wall between Israel and Palestine, on the way to Mary's spring:

The Israeli West Bank barrier is a security and separation barrier (see "Names of the barrier") under construction by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier's total length will be approximately 700 kilometers (430 mi). 90% of the length of this barrier is a fence with vehicle-barrier trenches surrounded by an on-average 60 meters (200 ft.) wide exclusion area, and 10% of the barrier is an 8 meters (26 ft.) tall concrete wall. As of 2012, 439.7 km (273.2 mi) of barrier (62.1%) have been built, 56.6 km (35.2 mi) (8%) are under construction and 211.7 km (131.5 mi) (29.9%) are projected but construction hasn't begun. The barrier is built mainly in the West Bank and partly along the 1949 Armistice line, or "Green Line" between Israel and Palestinian West Bank. According to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, 8.5% of the West Bank area will after completion is on the Israeli side of the barrier, and 3.4% partly or completely surrounded on the eastern side.

Separation wall between Israel and Palestine, on the way to Mary's spring:

The Israeli government has revealed its plans for the route of the separation barrier it is building around Jerusalem. It will cut East Jerusalem and the largest Israeli settlement in the West Bank off from the rest of the West Bank, and will divide Bethlehem.

Christian Aid’s Palestinian and Israeli partners say the route will jeopardize peace talks and argue that the decision amounts to a unilateral attempt to prejudge the borders of a final solution to the conflict and whereas.

Separation wall between Israel and Palestine, on the way to Mary's spring:

Israelis most commonly refer to the barrier as the "separation (hafrada) fence" Geder HaHafrada) and "security fence" or "anti-terrorist fence", with "seam zone" referring to the land between the fence and the 1949 armistice lines.

Palestinians most commonly refer to the barrier in Arabic as "jidar al-fasl al-'unsuri", (racial segregation wall), and some opponents of the barrier refer to it in English as the "Apartheid Wall."

The International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion on the barrier, wrote it had chosen to use the term "wall" as "the other expressions sometimes employed are no more accurate if understood in the physical sense."

The BBC's style guide for journalists states "The BBC uses the terms barrier, separation barrier or West Bank barrier as acceptable generic descriptions to avoid the political connotations of "security fence" (preferred by the Israeli government) or "apartheid wall" (preferred by the Palestinians)."

The Border Post on the separation wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem:

Israel argues that the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from Palestinian terrorism, including the suicide bombing attacks that increased significantly during the Second Intifada. There has been a reduced number of incidents of suicide bombings since the construction of the barrier. According to statistics published by the Israeli government, between 2000 and July 2003, when the "first continuous segment" of the barrier was built, 73 Palestinian suicide bombings were carried out from the West Bank, killing 293 Israelis and injuring over 1,900. However, from August 2003 to the end of 2006, only 12 attacks were carried out, killing 64 Israelis and wounding 445. Supporters argue that this is indicative of the barrier being effective in preventing such attacks.

The Border Post on the separation wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem:

Opponents of the barrier object that the route substantially deviates from the Green Line into the occupied territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. They argue that the barrier is an illegal attempt to annex Palestinian land under the guise of security, violates international law, has the effect of undermining negotiations (by establishing new borders), and severely restricts Palestinians who live nearby, particularly their ability to travel freely within the West Bank, including to and from the lands on which their subsistence depends, and to access work in Israel. In a 2004 advisory opinion resulting from a Palestinian-initiated U.N. resolution, the International Court of Justice considered that "Israel cannot rely on a right of self-defense or on a state of necessity in order to preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall". The Court asserted that "the construction of the wall, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law".

Two similar barriers, the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier and the Israeli-built 7–9 meter (23–30 ft.) wall separating Gaza from Egypt (temporarily breached on January 23, 2008), which is currently under Egyptian control, are also controversial.

 The Border check Post, entering to Jerusalem:

The Israeli government says the barrier is for security reasons. Israel has an absolute right to defend its citizens from attack. But the route of the barrier — snaking deep into the West Bank will mean lands claimed by Palestinians for their future state will lie on the Israeli side of the barrier.

Inside the Jerusalem, after the Border Post on the separation wall between the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:

The issue of East Jerusalem is especially contentious — Palestinians hope it will be the capital of their future state. The plan, which was authorized by Ariel Sharon and the Israeli Supreme Court, will see Ma’ale Adumim, the largest West Bank Israeli settlement encompassed by the barrier.

The way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem: 

The town of Bethlehem will also be divided and the holy site of Rachel’s Tomb will lie on the Israeli side. Construction is due for completion by the end of the year. As Christian Aid witnessed on a recent trip to the West Bank, the route of the barrier is having a devastating effect on the lives of Palestinians living nearby and many have been forced to move.

Inside the Jerusalem, after the Border Post on the separation wall between the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem: 

The story of Palestinian headmistress and mother of two, Terri Bullata, illustrates the hardships the barrier is causing. She and her family live directly in the shadow of the wall in the Abu Dis district which now falls on the West Bank side of the wall. Their house, however, is on the ‘Jerusalem’ side. She, being a Jerusalemite, has blue Jerusalem ID which, under the Israeli permit system means that she can reside in Jerusalem and generally enjoy greater freedom of movement than her West Bank compatriots — including her own husband. If her husband’s ID is checked he could be deported to the other side of the barrier, forcing the family apart.

Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel:

Shaare Zedek was the first large hospital to be located in the Western portion of Jerusalem and is today the city's fastest growing hospital and the only major medical facility in the city's center. After the Ottoman Turks gave permission in the 1890s, and with funding from European donors, the hospital was built on Jaffa Road, two miles (3 km) outside the Old City. Its opening ceremony took place on January 27, 1902. Dr. Moshe Wallach was the director from then until 1947. Schwester Selma lived in the hospital and cared for abandoned children. The building in Bayit Vegan was inaugurated in 1980.

In December of 2012, Shaare Zedek assumed operational control over Bikur Cholim Hospital and merged many of its activities. The hospital treats over 600,000 patients per year in more than 30 inpatient departments and over 70 outpatient units and maintains a very active academic service as a leading research and teaching institution. Shaare Zedek is classified as a public/private hospital, serving as a non-profit institution and dependent on donor support for capital development, while committed to offering advanced medical care for the wider Jerusalem-area community.

Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel:

As in the case of the Bullatta family, along the entire length of the route of the barrier in the Jerusalem district, Palestinians are separated from Palestinians and not from Israelis — which begs the question of how that provides Israelis with security.

Snow covered shoulders on the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:

Mary's Spring,   Ein Kerem

A Holy spring which was the center of the ancient village. According to tradition, Virgin Mary stopped here to drink while visiting John the Baptist's parents.

Mary's spring is located in a valley on the south side of the village of Ein Kerem, west of Jerusalem (8KM from the center). In the aerial map below the spring is located at the center of the bottom side. Pointing and clicking on selected points in purple will automatically scroll  to the relevant photo or  site.

Snow covered shoulders on the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:

Luke 1: 39-56:

The visit of Mary to the house of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, in Ein Kerem ("city of Judah").

"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, which the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 

Ein Karem parking on the way to Mary's spring:

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath hoped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house".

An unusual seen in Ein Karen, Jerusalem, "Crow":

Kerem - Hebrew: vineyard. As in 1 Kings 23 1: ""And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard".

Ein, Ma'ayan - Hebrew: spring. Based on "Ma'im" - water. There are dozens of references in the Bible, since water was a major factor in this dry land.

Ein Kerem (Karem) - the spring of the vineyard.

The structure of Mary's spring with the tower of the mosque built over it:

BetHaccerem - Hebrew: The house of the vineyard. Beth - house.

Zacharias - Hebrew: God (Iah) will remember (Zachar) him. Zacharias was a priest, a relative of Jesus and John's father. There are forms of the name - such as Zachariah son of Barachiah - the 6th C BC prophet - who is also referred in the New Testament (Matthew 23 35).

Antiquity

A spring that provides water to the village of Ein Karem stimulated settlement there from an early time. Pottery has been found nearby dating to the Middle Bronze Age. In the Israelite age it was the location of Beth Ha Kerem (Jeremiah 6:1; Nehemiah 3:14), where the traditional name comes from. A reservoir here was mentioned in the copper scroll. It was recorded during the Islamic conquest and again, under the name St. Jeehan de Bois, during the Crusades. Ottoman tax registers from 1596 showed a population of 29 Muslim families.

During excavations in Ein Karem, a marble statue of Aphrodite (or Venus) was found, broken in two. It is believed to date from the Roman era and was probably toppled in Byzantine times. Today, the statue is at the Rockefeller Museum.

Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:

The spring, it was used since the Bronze Age, more than 3,000 years ago.  According to Christian tradition, Mary stopped here to drink from the spring, and was named after Mary.

Mary's spring in Ein Karem:

Christian traditions

According to the Bible, Mary went "into the hill country, to a city of Judah" when she visited the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. According to Catholic tradition and dogma, this Mary brought forth the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Theodosius (530) says that the distance is five miles from Jerusalem to the place where Elizabeth lived, the mother of John the Baptist. The Jerusalem Calendar (dated before 638) mentions the village by name as the place of a festival in memory of Elizabeth celebrated on the twenty-eighth of August. The Anglo Saxon Saewulf on pilgrimage to Palestine in 1102-1103 wrote of a monastery in the area of Ein Karim dedicated to St. Sabas where 300 monks had been "slain by Saracens. The site of the crusader church was purchased by Father Thomas of Novaria in 1621. In 1672 the Franciscan order received a Firman from the Ottoman Sultan and 'large sums of mon[ies]' were expended in an extensive rebuilding program

Mary's spring in Ein Karem:

Modern history

The population of Ein Kerem in 1931 was 2,637 and in 1944/45 it was 3,180, in each case including the smaller localities of Ayn al-Rawwas and Ayn al-Khandaq. The 1947 UN Partition Plan placed Ein Kerem in the Jerusalem enclave intended for international control.^[13] In February 1948 the village's 300 guerilla fighters were reinforced by a well-armed Arab Liberation Army force of mainly Syrian fighters, and on March 10 a substantial Iraqi detachment arrived in the village, followed within days by some 160 Egyptian fighters. On March 19, the villagers joined their foreign guests in attacking a Jewish convoy on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road. Immediately after the April 1948 massacre at the nearby village of Deir Yassin (2 km to the north), most of the women and children in the village were evacuated. It was attacked by Israeli forces during the 10-day campaign of July 1948. The remaining civilian inhabitants fled on July 10–11. The Arab Liberation Army forces which had camped in the village left on July 14–16 after Jewish forces captured two dominating hilltops, Khirbet Beit Mazmil and Khirbet al-Hamama, and shelled the village. During its last days, Ein Kerem suffered from severe food shortages.

Israel later incorporated the village into the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. Ein Kerem was one of the few depopulated Arab localities which survived the war with most of the buildings intact. The abandoned homes were resettled with new immigrants. Over the years, the bucolic atmosphere attracted a population of artisans and craftsmen.

Mary's spring in Ein Karem:

In 1961, Hadassah founded its medical center on a nearby hilltop, including the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacology.

Mary's Spring

According to Christian tradition, this village fresh-water spring is the location where Mary and Elizabeth met. The spring waters are considered holy by some Catholic and Orthodox Christian pilgrims who visit the site and fill bottles with its waters. The spring was repaired and renovated by Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Arab inhabitants also built a mosque on the site, of which the maqam (shrine) still remains.