Discover the profound Christian narrative woven into the landscapes of Ein Karem and Abu Ghosh on this specialized tour through Jerusalem's hills.
This journey focuses specifically on the New Testament connections and early Christian history of these significant biblical sites.
Ein Karem, traditionally recognized as the birthplace of John the Baptist, serves as our starting point. We'll explore Mary's Spring (Ein Maryam), where according to tradition, Mary stopped to drink during her visit to her cousin Elizabeth.
The Church of the Visitation marks the location where the pregnant Mary met Elizabeth, carrying John the Baptist - a pivotal moment in Christian tradition commemorated in Luke's Gospel. Our morning culminates at the Church of St. John in the Mountains, built over the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, whose life and ministry were instrumental in announcing Jesus's coming.
Following our exploration of Ein Karem's Christian heritage, we'll journey to Abu Ghosh - identified by many scholars as biblical Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection. Here, we'll visit the Benedictine Monastery, built during the Crusader period and known for its remarkable acoustics and Byzantine-era frescoes.
We'll also see the Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant, constructed on the site believed to be where the Ark rested before reaching Jerusalem during King David's reign.
