every sabbath the students take turns between visiting the Garden Tomb or Gethsemane after church. it makes sabbath so special and indescribable. the spirit is strong and my testimony is reaffirmed at every visit. i love both sites very much.
on the way to Gethsemane you walk through Orson Hyde Garden. i adore this park- the stone path leads down the steep slope of the Mount of Olives. as you follow the switch back path you get an amazing view of the Temple Mount.
the Church of all Nations is the traditional site of the Garden of Gethsemane. the church is beautiful and the garden next to it is stunning. the olive trees are thousands of years old!
my favorite part are all the old people touring. they are all so nice and friendly - it is great to talk to them and find a connection. and here it is always a connection to Christ. no matter what type of Christianity people worship every one is so kind to other Christians sects. i think because there aren't very many Christians here compared to other religions. i had a sweet old french grandma start talking to me in french while i sketched a olive tree. and another elderly man told me that he liked my sketch and said something that i just love-
"its more important on how you feel while you sketch".
here is a sweet looking priest in the church. i love his beard and outfit:
the door to the church is iron and in the shape of an olive tree. awesome!!!!
so i am going to pass along something i learned.
the phrase "garden of gethsemane" is not historically correct.
Christ did not atone in a garden. the word "gethsemane" means olive press
which are kept in caves.
it makes better olive oil to press it in a cave where it is not so exposed.
so what happened was Christ and his 3 apostles go to an oil press and from there Christ goes 2 stone throws away to go pray.
and there is an olive press right next to the Church of All Nations........
that is where the apostles waited for Christ and when Christ came back where the Romans arrested him.
so we are not sure where from the olive press Christ went but it is 2 stone throws away in any direction on the Mount of Olives.
One of my professors taught me that- interesting huh?
so here is the sign entrance for the grotto :
there is a private garden that the owner lets us BYU students in for free.
they even lock us in (and others out) and guard the door so we don't have to worry about anything.
we can then safely spread out in the garden to think and study.
it is the perfect recipe for a wonderful Sabbath.
