Dr. Roni Kedmi
The Land of Israel is called the Holy Land in the cultures of both Judaism and Christianity (Terra Sancta). The word "holy" stems from the connection to a holy person, a holy book and holy people.
Starting in the second century A.D., Christian believers came to the land of Jesus in order to visit the places mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, for spiritual purposes. These people were called pilgrims and their journey was called a pilgrimage. However, the term "Holy Land" did not exist in Nazareth before the reign of Constantine the Great (274-337 A.D.) who raised Christianity from the status of a persecuted religion to the status of a permitted religion in the empire (the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D.).
According to tradition, his mother, Helena, found the location of the crucifixion of Jesus, including the cross on which he perished, and his empty burial place nearby. In these places, Constantine built a complex that includes the Martyrium Basilica, atrium and Rotunda of the Anastasis (Greek for resurrection). He also built a church above the cave in which Jesus was born in Bethlehem (the Church of the Nativity). Another church was built on the Mount of Olives, above the place in which Jesus ascended to heaven.
These building projects facilitated the process of identifying the holy places for the believers. The identification work was performed by emperors and their courtiers, clergymen and pilgrims. These people mapped the places in the religious texts, in chronicles, in the liturgy and on geographical maps. The structures that were built in these locations were designed to turn the holy places into eternal sites that would memorialize the path of Jesus and the saints as told in the canonical Holy Scriptures. The rituals that were formulated and conducted in these places reinforced their sacred status.
The building projects that were conducted in the Holy Land, like the holy relics that were found, contributed greatly to the cult of saints that was, and is, an integral part of Catholic culture. The holy relics were understood to be a source of divine power in their ability to serve as intercessionaries between the faithful and God, and also to perform miracles, primarily healing.
In effect, the custom of pilgrimage was both an economic and spiritual project for the faithful. If the security, economic and political conditions did not allow for their journey, other routes were developed for pilgrimages to the holy places in Europe, as a substitute for the land of Jesus.
According to the canonical Holy Scriptures, Jesus was born, lived and functioned in Israel, aside from a few instances in which he want to Jordan, the West Bank and Lebanon.
The main milestones in the life of Jesus
The Annunciation - In Christianity, the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary, a virgin engaged to marry Joseph, that she would bear a son by the Holy Ghost, who would be named Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). On that spot, a church was built to mark the event.
Mary visits Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-56) – After she received the news that she would bear a son, May went to visit Elisabeth, who was pregnant with the child who would become John the Baptist. A church was built in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, at the place of the visit.
The birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25) - Jesus was born in Bethlehem, when his parents went there for a census. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was originally built next to a cave in which, according to tradition, the birth took place.
The baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9) - Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The location of the baptism is in dispute. According to tradition, the location of the baptism was in Bethany, in Jordan. In 1981, the State of Israel established a special baptismal site on the Israeli side of the Jordan River which would serve as a substitute and is called Yardenit.
Choosing the apostles - The first of the apostles called by Jesus were fishermen (Simon called Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John). "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:18). At that time, they were busy with work connected to fishing on the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.
In 1986, a boat was discovered that was dated to 50-70 A.D.. This boat was a typical example of the type of boat used for fishing and for transporting people and goods in the time of Jesus.
The transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-13) - On Mt. Tabor, Jesus was transfigured before his disciples Peter, James and John. His face became radiant as the sun and his garments turned white. Moses and Elias also appeared in that scene. A church was built on the site to commemorate the event.
The entrance into Jerusalem (John 12:12-19) - Jesus arrived in Jerusalem in his last days, riding on a young donkey and was received by a large crowd of admirers holding branches of palm trees as a sign of respect. On the Sunday before Easter, Christians mark this event with a procession in which the believers hold palm branches.
The Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26) - On the eve of Passover, Jesus and his disciples had their last supper in which Jesus told them that one of them would betray him to the authorities. This important meal was the source for the sacrament of the Eucharist – the wine they drank was his blood and the bread they ate was his body. According to tradition, the room of the Last Supper is located on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.
The agony of Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45) - After the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples went to a garden called Gethsemane. Despite the fact that he asked them to stay awake while he prayed, they fell asleep. After Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, they fled. The Franciscan Church of All Nations was built on the spot.
The Passion of Jesus - After Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, he was taken before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and sentenced to crucifixion (Matthew 27:1-31). The Church of the Flagellation was built in that spot in 1920.
The events that Jesus underwent from the time that he was betrayed to his crucifixion are called the Passion (from the Latin "passus," meaning "to suffer"). The route taken by Jesus while he carried the cross, from his conviction to his crucifixion and burial is call the Via Dolorosa. This route has 14 stations, of which the last five are located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Jesus was crucified in a place called Golgotha (Matthew 27:33). After three hours, he died. A rock that is considered to belong to Golgotha (which means the place of the skull of Adam) is now located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-61) - Jesus' body was laid in a grave carved into the rock. Three days later, he was resurrected. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built above his grave in the 4th century A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.
The ascension of Jesus to heaven - (Mark 16:19) After the return of Jesus to the world, he was taken back to heaven. According to tradition, this event occurred on the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Ascension was built on that spot.
The main miracles performed by Jesus
Turning water into wine - This was the first miracle performed by Jesus (John 2:1-11), at Cana (which is now called Kfar Kana). The Franciscan Wedding Church was built on the site.
The miracle of the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13-21) - Jesus fed 5,000 people from a small amount of bread and fish. In the place in which, according to tradition, the miracle occurred (Tabha), a Benedictine church was built - the Church of the Loaves and Fishes.
Walking on water (Mark 6:45-52) - Jesus walked upon the water in front of his disciples. The event occurred on the Sea of Galilee.
The resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-44) - Jesus resurrected a man four days after his death and burial. According to tradition, the tomb of Lazarus is located in Bethany. A Franciscan church, named for St. Lazarus, was built on the spot,.
The main sermons given by Jesus
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-48) - Jesus preached a sermon to the faithful on the mountain. This sermon contained many of the principles of the Christian religion. The sermon contained expressions that are still in use today, such as turning the other cheek instead of an eye for an eye, love your enemies, etc. The first eight verses of the sermon begin with the word "Blessed," and therefore the mountain on which Jesus preached the sermon is called the Mount of Beatitudes. Some identify the mountain as Mt. Nachum. A Franciscan church was built at the top of the mountain (1936-1938).
A prophet is without honor in his own country (Matthew 13: 53-58) - Jesus preached a sermon in the synagogue in Nazareth, saying that the acts of a philosopher do not merit recognition in his own country. He angered the people, who tried to cast him off a precipice. According to tradition, this precipice is located on Mt. Kedumim.