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 t the foot of the Mount of Olives, bordering the Kidron and Jehosephat valleys, the Church of Agony stands out from afar. Its facade faces Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. This is one of most beautiful churches in the Holy Land, and it was built where oil was pressed from olives, giving the mountain its name, Gethsemane. |
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Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I go over there to pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’ And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. ‘My Father,’ he said ‘if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.’ He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, ‘So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, a second time, he went away and prayed: ‘My Father,’ he said ‘if this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!’ And he came again back and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy. Leaving them there, he went away again and prayed for the third time, repeating the same words. Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, ‘You can sleep on now and take your rest. Now the hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is already close at hand.’
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 he entrance to the church is from a side street, branching off the Jericho road. The opening leads to the garden where Jesus prayed before he was arrested and “Hortus Gethsemane” is inscribed on its threshold. The grotto, 50 meters away from the garden, is where Jesus, Peter, James and John fled from the Romans after the Last Supper. While Jesus was praying here, Judas betrayed him to the Romans, informing them of this hiding place. From Gethsemane, Jesus was brought into town to his first place of arrest.The Church of the Agony symbolizes the place where Jesus was overwhelmed with anguish. The Grotto of Gethsemane is near the Tomb of the Virgin. |
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Church of All Nations
 onstruction of the new Church of Gethsemane began in 1919, thanks to donations given by many Catholic countries and communities; hence its name, Church of All Nations.
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 esigned by the Franciscan architect, Antonio Barluzzi, it was inaugurated in 1924. A multicolored mosaic adorns the facade of the church, depicting Jesus - the link between God and man - preaching in Jerusalem. Beside him are his disciples, men and women. One of them carries a tablet bearing the word “ignoratio” - ignorance. Above Jesus appear the two Greek letters, alpha and omega as written in the scriptures: “I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, so says the Lord.”
Atop the pillars stand statues of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the writers of the four Gospels.
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 n the floor of the foyer is a flat rock called the Rock of Misery where, according to tradition, Jesus held his prayer vigil.
The ceiling of the sanctuary features 12 domes, each dedicated to a nation that participated in the support of the church's construction and inscribed with the country’s national emblem: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and the United States.
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| One of the domes inside the church. |
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Mass in the Church of All Nations. |
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Print version
igher up the mountain, above the Church of Gethsemane, is a Russian Orthodox church with several domes, named the Church of Mary Magdalene. Planted in the church’s garden are sacred ancient olive trees. One of them leans against the wall of the church. According to tradition, Jesus prayed near this tree.
