And in this fortress, an amazing and great event in its tragedy took place. In ancient Judea, an uprising broke out against the Romans, which was brutally suppressed. And only the defenders of Masada lasted 3 years. And when they realized that the capture of the fortress was inevitable, they gathered and decided that it was better to die free than to fall into slavery again. They cast lots: 10 people killed 900, then one killed the remaining nine and then committed suicide. The story was recorded by the ancient historian Flavius from the words of two women who hid in a cave and remained alive. They even kept the coins that were used for the draw. When the Romans broke into the fortress, they did not find anyone alive there.
There are many legends about the foundation of this monastery. Scientists have proved that this temple appeared to the west of ancient Jerusalem no later than the 5th century, even before the Arab conquest of Palestine in 638. For many centuries, the monastery was considered Georgian, and was built in honor of the return of the Life-Giving Cross, recaptured from the Persians. In general, listening to the history of this monastery is like reading a historical detective story.
The panorama of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives is a majestic and unforgettable sight! The Mount of Olives is revered as the site of Jesus’ ascension. There is a Church of the Ascension and an Orthodox nunnery. Currently, there are about 50 nuns from different countries in the monastery! Many times the monastery was on the verge of closure and destruction, but survived.
From the garden, which at the time of Jesus Christ occupied almost the entire valley, now there is a small piece of 50 by 40 meters left. But it was in this garden that Jesus prayed before his arrest. And it is here that several olive trees grow, which are more than a thousand years old, and they still bear fruit. It is a must to see this!
These shrines are described so many times in all sources that it is impossible not to repeat. The only thing that has to be said is that it is necessary to see all this, because it really is SACRED! And first of all, your heart responds. Without seeing with your own eyes – it’s impossible to fully understand this place!
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