History & Overivew of the Western Wall. Temple Mount. The Temple Mount, known in Hebrew as Har haBáyit (Hebrew: הַר הַבַּיִת or as Har haMoria (Hebrew: הַר הַמוריה and in Arabic as the Haram al-Sharif (Arabic: الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram al-qudsī ash-sharīf, Noble Sanctuary), is one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. It has been used as a religious site for thousands of years. At least four religions are known to have used the Temple Mount: Judaism, Christianity, Roman religion, and Islam. Biblical scholars have often identified it with two biblical mountains of uncertain location: Mount Moriah where the story of the binding of Isaac is set, and Mount Zion where the original Jebusite fortress stood; however, both interpretations are disputed.
Among Sunni Muslims, the Mount is widely considered the third holiest site in Islam. In light of the dual claims of both Judaism and Islam, it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world. Location and dimensions[edit] History[edit] Israelite period[edit] Chapel of the Ascension — iHolyland. When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. (Luke 24:50-51) Admission: Daily 8-6 (closes at 4:30 in winter) Cost: 3 NIS (less than $1 USD) Description: The Chapel of the Ascension marks the place where Jesus ascended into heaven after resurrecting and living on the earth for 40 days.
There is a small mosque, Zawiyat al-Adawiyya, built in 1620 just to the right of the Chapel of the Ascension. The entrance to the Chapel of the Ascension leads to an open, paved courtyard. From the west entrance, the Chapel of the Ascension (once used as a mosque) has a mihrab pointing in the direction of Mecca. A small burial crypt just outside the Chapel of the Ascension draws pilgrims from Judaism, Christianity and Islam alike but for very different reasons. History: Chapel of the Ascension (Jerusalem) The first complex constructed on the site of the present chapel was known as Imbomon (Greek for “on the hill”).
It was a rotunda, open to the sky, surrounded by circular porticos and arches. In 390 AD, Poimenia, a wealthy and pious Roman aristocratic woman of the imperial family financed the addition of a Byzantine style church at the site of Helena's original construction.[2] The second sanctuary at this location, also Byzantine in design, was called "Eleona Basilica" (elaion in Greek means "olive garden", from elaia "olive tree," and has an oft-mentioned similarity to eleos meaning "mercy"). This shrine was built on the sacred grotto where Jesus is said to have taught his disciples to pray the Our Father. The original 4th century church, known today as the Church of the Pater Noster was partially reconstructed in the early 20th century but remains unfinished. It was subsequently rebuilt in the late 7th century. The Chapel of the Ascension Coordinates:
Mount of Olives. Tomb of Zechariah Mt. of Olives, circa 1899 Geography & Geology[edit] The ridge is formed of oceanic sedimentary rock from the Late Cretaceous, and contains a soft chalk and a hard flint. While the chalk is easily quarried, it is not a suitable strength for construction, which is why the Mount was never built up, and instead features many man-made burial caves. History[edit] Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin asked to be buried on the Mount of Olives near the grave of Etzel member Meir Feinstein, rather than Mount Herzl national cemetery.[8] Status since 1948[edit] Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Jordan obligated itself within the framework of the 3 April 1949 Armistice Agreements to allow "free access to the holy sites and cultural institutions and use of the cemeteries on the Mount of Olives. " Following the 1967 Six-Day War and the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, its government began restoration work and re-opened the cemetery for burials.
Recent events[edit] Landmarks[edit] Dome of the Rock. See The Holy Land.