List of Christian holy sites in the Holy Land

The list of Christian holy sites in the Holy Land outlines sites within cities located in the Holy Land that are regarded as having a special significance to Christians, usually by association with Jesus or other personalities in the New Testament.

The identification of these sites became important during the Crusades, when Christian pilgrims often sought out the Holy places in the Outremer, especially in early 12th century immediately after the capture of Jerusalem.^[1]

The search for the Christian holy sites was the foundation of 19th century European Biblical archaeology in the ottoman Syria and later the Mandate Palestine.

The holy sites in cities for Christians of all denominations are:

• The Golgotha (sometimes called Calvary) hill outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early 1st century walls that contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of All Nations, but many other Christian institutions as well. Jerusalem is believed to be the site of some of Jesus's teaching, the Last Supper which is believed to have occurred at the Cenacle, and the subsequent institution of the Holy Eucharist as well as His entombment; Christians believe he was crucified on a nearby hill.
• the city of Bethlehem with the Church of the Nativity is believed to mark the birthplace of Jesus, and also the Shepherd's Fields in the neighboring village of Beit Sahour, the location of the angel's visitation to the shepherds to announce the birth of Christ.
• Church of the Annunciation in Basilica and Mary's Well in Nazareth which is believed to be Jesus's hometown, and the site of other holy places.
• Sephoria (Tzippori), where the Virgin Mary was said to have spent her childhood
• Nearby Jericho, the site called "Qasr el Yahud" on the western bank of the River Jordan, is the site of the Baptism of Jesus
• Cave dwelling of John the Baptist
• Sea of Galilee
• The site of the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor
• The Jerusalem to Jericho road to which was the location of the Good Samaritan's charity.
• The Mount of Temptation in Jericho which was the site of Satan's failed attempts to tempt Jesus
• Jacob's Well in Nablus marks the site where Jesus revealed to a Samaritan woman that he was the Messiah.

External Links

• A Lantern Slide tour of the Holy Land (Late 19th century photos)

References