In my last post, I discussed
about the sites in Jerusalem that I couldn’t access due to mainly unavoidable reasons. If
I am to pick 20 sites now, I would go for the following (but not in any specific
order).
1)
Interior of the 'Dome of the Rock’ (Foundation stone) and Al-Aqsa Mosque
(Solomon Stables)-The Temple Mount. (Only Muslims are allowed)
2)
The Armenian Chapel of St. Vartan (4th century Christian art)-The Church of
Holy Sepulcher (Requires special permission from Armenian Patriarchate)
3)
The Burnt House of Jewish Quarter from Second Temple Period (Photography not
allowed)
4)
The Hurva Synagogue (18th Century) after renovation
5)
The Belz Great Synagogue (largest synagogue in the world)
6)
The 1st Century Tomb of Kings/Queen Helena of Adiabene (one of the largest and
beautiful tombs in Jerusalem)-was very difficult to even reach the caretakers,
forget permission!
7)
Jason's Tomb from Maccabean Period, 2nd century BC (open only on Mondays and
Thursdays for a few hours)
8)
Hosanna Stone, Armenian Quarter (see Luke 19:40). Access restricted to
non-Armenians.
9)
The Armenian Bird Mosaic, near the Damascus Gate (5th-6th century AD)-I was unable to
locate.
10)
The 1st Century Channel connecting Siloam Pool and the Jerusalem Archaeological
Park (was not open to public when I was in Israel)
11)
The ‘Quarry of Herod’ near Ramat Shlomo (supplied the giant stones for the
building of the Temple Mount)-not sure if it is open to the public.
12)
The Armenian church St. Saviour (the house of Caiaphas), Mount Zion (courtyard
with beautiful blue Armenian ceramics)-no access for public at least when I was
in Israel.
13)
The Greek Orthodox Church St. John the Baptist, Christian Quarter (one of the
oldest churches in Jerusalem)-permission to be arranged from Greek Orthodox
Patriarchate.
14)
The Greek Orthodox Monastery of Onuphrius (traditional site of Akeldama, where
Judas hanged himself)-was satisfied with the external view.
15)
The Rockefeller Archaeological Museum (I regret for not visiting...plus the no
photography policy in Israel Museums)
16)
The Edward and Helen Mardigian Museum of Armenian Art and History of Jerusalem
(was under renovation for long time, not sure if open now)
17)
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Museum (will see the sarcophagi from the Herod
Family Tomb), Christian Quarter (permission for visiting to be pre-arranged
from the Greek Orthodox Church)
18)
View from the tower of Russian Orthodox Church of Ascension, top of 'Mount of
Olives' (open only once in a year for public, that is on the 'Ascension
Day', 40 days after Easter)
19)
View from the Jerusalem International YMCA Tower
20)
Knesset building and menorah (the Israeli Parliament)
(I
made most of my trips to Jerusalem on Fridays which automatically
restricted my access to some of the Jewish religious sites including the
synagogues)
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