The Church of All Nations, officially named the Basilica of the Agony, is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem next to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Catholic church enshrines a section of stone in the Garden of Gethsemane that is believed to be where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest. (Matthew 26:36-39)
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
The church you see today is positioned on the foundation of two ancient buildings: a Byzantine basilica from the 4th-century that was destroyed by an earthquake in 746 A.D., and a Crusader chapel from the 12th century, which was abandoned in 1345.
With funding from 12 different countries, hence the nickname The Church of All Nations, the Basilica of Agony was built from 1919-1924. The architect of the building was Antonio Barluzzi, who also designed the nearby Dominus Flevit Church.
The rock altar inside the church is the traditional spot where Christ sweat drops of blood. The Catholic Church has jurisdiction of the church. The garden area immediately to the north of the church, considered to be the Garden of Gethsemane, is run by Franciscans.
Comments
Post a Comment