In the morning our bus took us to the beautiful and relatively quiet Garden Tomb, and in the afternoon we walked into the chaotic press of people in the incense-filled Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The Garden Tomb became popular with Protestants as the possible place of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, as it matches some of the key descriptions found in the New Testament. Ironically, a bus station and mosque fill the space just below “the place of the skull” rock cliff. At the least, the nearby tomb is an authentic 1st century burial spot carved out of the rock cliff. We enjoyed a quiet communion service led by Pastor Brad in one of the garden’s open-air meeting places.

Juxtaposed to the Garden Tomb is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which has been venerated since Constantine’s mother Helen declared the site to be the authentic place of Christ’s crucifixion and burial. The church itself is huge, with different wings or sections for Catholics, Orthodox, Coptic, etc. Long lines wait to kiss the rock upon which Jesus was purportedly killed. And another long line wraps around the chapel area waiting to see the rock slab Christ was (maybe) laid on. The mingling of many incense aromas fill the space.

We also went to several sites on Mount Zion, including the Upper Room, the Tomb of King David, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. This church is built at high priest Caiphas’ house, and is said to be the place where St. Peter three times denied knowing Jesus.

Another observation of the city came from the top of the Citadel, or the Tower of David, where we saw a laser light show a few nights ago. It helped to view another perspective of the city from above.

Even though we have a bus to take us around the walls of the Old City, we have mostly walked to these places. We certainly get our exercise!