israel

Trying to take a picture here was insanity. Everyone is walking around in a type of tourist panic. The line to get into the tomb was about two hours long. Jesse and I wanted to check it out, but decided to spare the kids the waiting time.

This is a picture inside the Holy Sepulchre. I don’t know why, but I think it’s so beautiful. I bet at night- it must be incredible when they light all the lanterns and candles.

There is a small area in the Holy Sepulchre called the Chapel of Adam. It is directly beneath a chapel upstairs called the Chapel of Calvary. Legend suggests that Adam was buried here and that the blood of Jesus trickled down to his skull. The reddish brown stain on the rock is said to be the blood of JC.

The line here was loooooong with people pushing and shoving like they were George Costanza from Seinfeld knocking over children and elderly people trying to get out of an apartment fire! Ha.
Jesse took pictures from a distance and that was good enough for us.

The Stone of Unction, also known as the Stone of Anointing. This is the place where Jesus’ body was laid down after being removed from the crucifix and prepared for burial.
It is customary for pilgrims to kiss the stone or rub it with oil and then wipe it with a handkerchief. Since we have learned so much about Buddhism and Hinduism on our travels- we decided we would also learn more about Christianity, so we all touched the rock for a chance at becoming a bit holy. 🙂

The site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is identified as the place both of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. The church is a place where many people who are on pilgrimages come to see where some of the major events in Christianity took place. You can see from the photos, that people were everywhere!!!