Church of All Nations & Gathsemane
It is said that before his arrest by the Romans, Jesus prayed at the foot of the Mount of Olives, on a section of the bedrock in the Garden on Gethsemane. Like other sites on Jesus’ path to the cross, throughout much of the ensuing period, this rock was enshrined by a succession of Christian places of worship. Among these were a 4th-century Byzantine basilica that was destroyed by an earthquake in the year 746 CE, and a 12th-century Crusader chapel that was abandoned in 1345.
Since 1924, the Church of All Nations (officially named the Basilica of the Agony) has rested on the foundations of these earlier churches. The church is thus named because the funds that went into its construction were donated by a variety of countries. Each of these nations is commemorated with a coat of arms in the glass of the church ceiling.
Inside, the focus of the church is the bedrock, which is surrounded by a crown. The Church of All Nation’s impressive facade features a row of Corinthian columns under a mosaic portraying Jesus as an intermediary between man and God. The facade joins the bubble-domed roof to give this church a distinctly Byzantine look.
Photos courtesy of Ministry of Tourism, by Noam Chen
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 968 traveler reviews
This church is included on almost every pilgrimage and, therefore, presents a challenge for the amateur photographer. There are always crowds, and the inside is quite dark. You will need to cross the busy street for an overview, and you can see the very colorful art above the columns. The darkness inside requires high...
MoreThis church is included on almost every pilgrimage and, therefore, presents a challenge for the amateur photographer. There are always crowds, and the inside is quite dark. You will need to cross the busy street for an overview, and you can see the very colorful art above the columns. The darkness inside requires high ISOs and adjustments to the white balance. Or, post-process the best images. Due to the crowds, travel light - a DSLR with zoom lens leaning to the wide-angle capability works well.
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The Church of All Nations - The Basilica of the Agony is located on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, right next to the Garden of Gethsemane, and directly across the Kidron Valley from the Eastern Wall and the Temple Mount. It is a modern church with modern art and decorations but...
MoreThe Church of All Nations - The Basilica of the Agony is located on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, right next to the Garden of Gethsemane, and directly across the Kidron Valley from the Eastern Wall and the Temple Mount. It is a modern church with modern art and decorations but it's location was, to me, the most impactful of its attributes and attraction. Inside the Basilica, the most significant feature - to me at least - is the large rock on the ground in front of the altar representing the rock on which Our Lord spent his agony in the garden on Holy Thursday.. What a significant impressive feature, both inspiring and awe producing. The modern exterior of the Church of Al Nations - The Basilica of the Agony is marked by the very large and extensive mosaic over the front door covering the whole upper area of the front of the Basilica (which is also quite visible and identifiable from the highway when passing by.
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An outstanding church in the heart of Jerusalem where the Passion of Jesus took place. The present church here (the 3rd built) was only completed in the 1920s so this was somewhat a modern vibe of a building. So many people packing this church taking their mandatory photo op. So you could just imagine...
MoreAn outstanding church in the heart of Jerusalem where the Passion of Jesus took place. The present church here (the 3rd built) was only completed in the 1920s so this was somewhat a modern vibe of a building. So many people packing this church taking their mandatory photo op. So you could just imagine the queues when you finally visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
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