Church of All Nations

Welcome to the Kidron Valley, a geographical and profound spiritual threshold that has separated the holy city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives for millennia. As we begin our approach toward the Church of All Nations, let us…

Welcome to the newly excavated threshold just outside the traditional boundaries of the Garden of Gethsemane. As you stand here, carefully observe the exposed bedrock and the ongoing archaeological work that continually reshapes…

We now step through the iron gates and into the meticulously tended grounds of the Garden of Gethsemane itself. Immediately, the harsh sunlight of the open valley is broken into a thousand dancing shadows by the sprawling, silver…

As we navigate the pathways of the ancient grove, your attention should be drawn to a few specific trees that stand apart from their ancient, heavily knotted companions. While the colossal, centuries old trees dominate the…

Before we step into the shadowed interior of the basilica, we must take ample time to study its magnificent and striking exterior facade. Standing in the sunlit courtyard, the Church of All Nations presents an architectural face…

Step through the heavy bronze doors and cross the threshold into the main sanctuary. Instantly, your senses are shocked by the dramatic shift in the environment. …

As your eyes acclimate to the profound twilight of the basilica, lower your gaze from the starry domes above to the stone beneath your feet. Scattered across the floor of the nave, carefully protected beneath thick panels of…

We have now reached the absolute spiritual and architectural core of the Church of All Nations. Located precisely in the center of the main apse, directly beneath the high altar, lies an uneven, expansive slab of raw, pale…

Having focused our attention on the central Rock of Agony, let us now turn our gaze to the two flanking spaces on either side of the high altar. The architecture of the basilica features three distinct apses, or semi circular…

We now exit the grand basilica and walk a short distance to the north, venturing slightly away from the manicured olive grove to explore an equally crucial, though often overlooked, part of the Gethsemane narrative. Built into…

As we emerge from the damp coolness of the grotto and step back out into the bright sunlight of the Kidron Valley, let us pause to reflect on the immense journey we have just completed. You have walked through a landscape that is…