This blog is a continuation of the recent entry on the Tour of Israel in late May to early June 2014 (Read here).
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On 1 June 2014, we were taken to an olive grove at the foot of Mount of Olives. Adjoining the grove is the Church of All Nations, a Roman Catholic Church. By the Catholic tradition, this was where Jesus prayed on the night just before his arrest, trial and eventual crucifixion. As in similar cases of other pilgrimage sites, there are other nearby sites claimed by other denominations to be where Jesus prayed. The fact is that most scholars are unsure of the exact location of Gethsemane and therefore the spot where Jesus prayed.
At the church courtyard, many congregated around an old olive tree. Previous analysis has concluded that three among these old olive trees are around 1,000 years old. No one can be certain that one of these old trees is the one which Jesus sought shelter and prayed. The old tree has since been partially fenced up to prevent overzealous pilgrims from pinching bit and pieces of the trunk, branches and leaves for souvenir.
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