Cloister watch

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 For readers who asked what one would see from the bench in my previous post, I'll add a few pictures.
Basically you see the four sides of the cloister of the Church of the Redeemer.
They surround a small courtyard with a few trees and flowers, and some ancient archaeological elements are strewn around.
Enlarge the photo to find the opening to the old cistern.

Towering above is the bell tower, the tallest in the Old City.
For a closer view of it see BibleWalks, or  see it here lit up by dynamic illumination during the annual summer Jerusalem Light Festival.

This church, built over ancient ones, was completed in 1898.

The dome of the Redeemer Church is also visible from the cloister.

And the little patch of sky above it is going to this week's SkyWatch Friday.
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Shabbat shalom, happy 7th candle of Chanuka, and happy new moon/Rosh Chodesh.
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Tall wall of stacked stools

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Come have a seat in the cloister of the (German Lutheran) Church of the Redeemer, die Erlöserkirche.
The cloister and the courtyard are a little oasis of peace and quiet in the middle of the bustling Old City.

They sure found a decorative way to stack  stools when they are not needed!
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More about the Redeemer Church in my earlier post and at BibleWalks.com.
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Jerusalem by night

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For SkyWatch Friday, the black dome of the heavens above Jerusalem!

The Old City was lit up last week with dozens of dazzling light displays for the 4th International Light Festival.

At the foot of the newly rebuilt Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter--a whirling "Meetings Composition" with its movements triggered by the location of the spectator.

At the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer--dynamic illumination to nice music.

Illuminated narrow street in the Armenian Quarter.

At Jaffa Gate--the Italian "Cupola."

But even with "just" her normal illumination, the Old City is beautiful, so beautiful.
Here, the Western Wall and above it, the Temple Mount with the Muslim Dome of the Rock and el Aksa mosque.

The Citadel or Tower of David.

Hundreds of thousands walked along the old city wall and entered by various gates.
Enlarge the photo to see the people.
In the sky above the Latin Patriarchate, a big Vatican flag.

The Old City and the new city.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
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Redeemer church restorations and reflections

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R-Day at ABC Wednesday

Regretful rethinking of plans was called for this morning.
I had come to the Old City for a haircut but found all the Muslim places of business closed.
Then I heard loud booms and realized (hoped!) that it was from the Muslim ceremonial canons.
Right! It was Id il Adha holiday starting today!
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Redeemer Church was right near, so I went in.
Its bell tower is the tallest structure in the Old City and the view must be great.
But the only way up is by a narrow spiral staircase. Sorry, I can't do that, not even for the blog!
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Restorations!!
Yay, work is going on down in the bottom!
The present church was dedicated in 1898 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. But under it are medieval remains of the Church of St. Maria Latina. It was first built in the 8th century by Emperor Charlemagne.

I'm anxious to see what they do with it.
Please enlarge the photo to read all the sponsors and plans.
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Reflected in the door of a chapel is the cloister.
The two-storied cloister is the best-preserved in Jerusalem.
Once the fighting Crusader monks of the Hospitaler Order of St. John lived there.
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The cloister and the courtyard are a green oasis of peace and quiet in the middle of the bustling Old City.
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The bell tower and dome of the German Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

And way behind it, on the crest of the Mount of Olives, is the tall tower of the other Lutheran church at Augusta Victoria, named for Kaiser Wilhelm's wife.

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Id mubarak to any of you celebrating the holiday today.

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Pentecost

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Jerusalem will have yet another celebration tomorrow.
The Christians who celebrated Easter on March 23 will now, 50 days later, mark the Feast of Pentecost.
The second chapter of Acts says that the Apostles were gathered together in one place [the Upper Room] when suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing wind, filling the entire house where they were sitting.
Then tongues of fire appeared and one sat upon each one of Apostles.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as directed by the Spirit.
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This is one reason my pastor friend in Arkansas says that the Acts of the Apostles should really be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit.
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I wondered how to post a photo illustrating the Holy Spirit!
Then I remembered this parament in the Church of the Redeemer in the Old City.
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"Veni Creator Spiritus," from the 9th century, is considered the most famous of hymns and is normally sung in Gregorian chant on Pentecost or whenever the Holy Spirit is solemnly invoked.
Click here to hear the beautiful Gregorian chant (with notes and words).
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I wish all Christians in the Holy Land and abroad a joyous and Spirit-filled Pentecost!
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