Day 5 – 08. Basilica of Agony │Church of All Nations

Basilica of Agony

Basilica of Agony │Church of All Nations

Image Credit : commons.wikimedia.org

Basilica of Agony is a Catholic Franciscan church, built in 1924 by donations from many nations (hence one of its names). It is one of the most magnificent churches, located on the east bank of valley Kidron at the foothill of Mount of Olives. The front of the church, facing the temple mount, is covered by a large mosaic picture. According to the new testament, this place was the site where Jesus had his last prayer before he was betrayed and arrested by the Romans.
The church is built on the lower western foothills of Mount of Olives, facing the old city of Jerusalem, on the eastern side of Kidron valley. Its name (Gat Shemanim – means in Hebrew: oil press) came from the olive press that was used to process the olives.
The church is located on the junction of 3 roads – to the old city via Lions gate, the road up Mount Olives, and the road to Jericho.

New Testament
Gethsemane is the Greek form of Gat Shemanim, and it is where Jesus had his last prayer before he was betrayed and arrested by the Romans. According to the texts, Jesus and his disciples came to the site in this garden “beyond the Kidron (cedron) brook”, and Jesus prayed alone. Judas (Judah) knew this hiding place from previous times, and gave its position to the Romans. Jesus was apprehended at night (as per John), and led to a Jail within the city.

Modern times
In 1666 the Franciscans purchased the land at this site, but were not allowed to rebuild the ruined church until the British conquest.
During 1919-1924 the Franciscans order built the Catholic church over the ruins of the Crusaders church. It was designed by the Italian famous church architect, Antonio Barluzzi, who also designed the baslica of Beatitudes and the closer Dominus Flevit. The modern church was based on the Crusaders church, and some of its remains were embedded into the modern basilica. The church was constructed with worldwide donations, and therefore one of its names is “the church of all nations”.
Source : biblewalks.com 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY458jPRBYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP3xpEQmub8
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