Holy Shroud Exhibit and Bethany Beyond the Jordan
DAY 12: SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY – JERUSALEM – Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem at leisure to rest, pray and explore the old city at your own pace.
Before dinner we experience the spectacular Holy Shroud Exhibit in the Notre Dame Centre where pilgrims will gain a deeper understanding of Christ’s suffering and resurrection, while viewing a full size replica of the Holy Shroud housed in Turin.
We truly enjoyed our day off very much, especially after the go and go of the day before (which started at 4.30 am)! Many pilgrims returned to visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, only to discover it packed with pilgrims! (When we went so early in the morning it was quiet and empty!) Others visited the shops for souvenirs. Others just soaked in the atmosphere. (I just rested and then wandered!)
In the evening we celebrated Mass at this posh pilgrim center just outside the Old City called the Notre Dame Center. Then we saw the Holy Shroud exhibit, about the Shroud of Turin.
Image 5 was a larger-than-life sculpture of the figure represented in the Shroud, which many believe to be Jesus (as I do). The artist used the blood stains in the Shroud to accurately position the wounds.
Further, based on the wounds in the Shroud, the Crown of Thorns would have looked like this (6-7). These (8) are typical Roman nails used for crucifixion; they would have been nailed into the wrists, as the palms would not have supported the weight of the body.
Part of the beauty of the exhibit is the mosaics in the ceilings (9-11)!
This is a three dimensional cross section of a first century tomb. A "newly deceased" person would have been placed in the outer chamber (closest to the steps). Then, the tomb would have been sealed with a round stone. A year or so later, it would be opened; all that would be left would be collected and placed into a stone box (called an ossuary) and then moved to the inner chamber so that another body could use the outer room. This outer room would have had several niches, one over the other, for multiple bodies. The tomb of Jesus was a newly made tomb and would not have had any other bodies in it.
For our final night in Israel, we will enjoy a Special Celebration Dinner with spectacular views over all of Jerusalem.
(The first picture is of the Notre Dame Center, taken from the roof top.)
DAY 12: SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY – JORDAN –Finally we cross back into Jordan and make a visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, one of the most recent archaeological and religious discoveries. The five springs here form a tributary of the Jordan River and are believed to be the Baptismal site of Jesus by John the Baptist. Here we will celebrate Mass and renew our Baptismal vows as we remember the powerful commission from the Fatherly voice of Heaven: ‘This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’ (Mt 3:17).
On my 2009 pilgrimage, we did not go to the actual site where Jesus was baptized as it is on the Jordan side of the River Jordan in this place called Bethany Beyond the Jordan (not the Bethany where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived, near Jerusalem). This time we did! Here the river is brown and muddy, while the site is more pristine. However, the actual "spot" is not where we celebrated Mass (1-2). The site of the Baptism of the Lord is probably here (4), though the river has shifted and no longer flows to the location! Here, at this spot, archeologists have unearthed several ancient churches (one over the other) on this location dating to the early Church. Hence their belief that this is the site of the Lord's Baptism by John the Baptist.
We proceed to our beautiful hotel located on the shores of the Dead Sea. Here we can relax and take a float in the salty waters said to have healing qualities.
So this was by far our best hotel, a Holiday Inn, right on the Dead Sea (1)! The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. And while the ocean is 4-5% salt, the Dead Sea is 40% salt! And so you float. Just don't get any in your mouth or eyes!
Here are two "primates" basking in the day! (I'll let you decide who is the chimp and who is the gorilla!) On the beach, the hotel dredges up a huge container of mud from the Dead Sea full of lots of minerals and said to be good for your skin. You lather on the black, slimy substance, let it dry on your skin and then wash in the Dead Sea. According to the guides, you are ten years' younger with each application! Unfortunately, you have to be careful as some pilgrims might be alergic to the mixture, causing a terrible reaction…but that is for next week, our final blog in Egypt!
Happy Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion!