Jerusalem Great Monasteries

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Monastery of the Cross, Rehavia Valley, Jerusalem Israel

This unique monastery stands in the valley of the Cross, just few hundred meters away from the Israel Museum and the Knesset (the Parliament). This unique monastery was initially built in the Byzantine period, during the 5th CAD and further expanded by Caesar Justinian in the 6th CAD.

The monastery complex is hiding behind high medieval walls. The monastery church contains frescoes originally painted in the thirteenth century. The remains of the ancient pre-eighth century mosaic floor are preserved in the church.

The traditions of the triplet tree of Abraham and Lot is remembered in the iconography of the monastery: a painting over the entrance door and in the Room of the Holy Tree.


Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Church of the Pater Noster, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem Israel

The Roman Catholic Church of the Pater Noster (Our Father) stands on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem alongside the ruins of the 4th century Church of Eleona which was commissioned by the Roman Emperor, Constantine I to commemorate the site of Christ’s ascension to heaven. Here is the cave where Jesus is believed to have taught his apostle the Lord’s Prayer.

Today the walls of the convent church, cloisters and the surviving walls of the 4th century Eleona Church are covered with ceramic plaques engraved with the Lord’s Prayer in 140 languages.


Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Church of the Visitation, Ein Kerem Israel

The Franciscan Visitation church in the village of Ein Kerem is named after Virgin Mary's visited to the summer house of the parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elizabeth. According to tradition, it was here that Mary met her cousin Elizabeth and sang a hymn of praise (the Magnificat), a song of gratitude to God.

The beautiful Church complex was initially built at the Byzantine times and was further repaired by the Crusades. The Upper Church on the second is richly decorated by the spectacular wall paintings.

There is a mosaic on the wall of the church with a prayer from the New Testament, which appears in more than forty languages. If you ask permission and are lucky, go up to the upper church on the second floor, and look at the many, spectacular paintings on the wall.

From atop you can see a breathtaking view of Jerusalem Mountains.


Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes