| Jesus spent
his life in the hills of Judea and the Galilee, as is recorded
in the New Testament. Throughout the country there are Christian
holy sites and places of significance during Jesus’
life. One area that is filled with references to Jesus is
the Old City of Jerusalem and in particular the Christian
Quarter. This quarter of the Old City houses the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher and the Via Dolorosa. For people interested
in Christian subjects, the Old City is a place that should
not be missed. It affords filmmakers with a plethora of
striking churches as well as some of the most important
places in Christian theology.
The
Church of the Holy Sepulcher – believed to
be where Jesus was crucified and buried, the present church
is mostly from the 12th century Crusader construction and
has undergone many renovations that continue to today. Ownership
rights to the church are complex but the church is mainly
under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox,
and the Roman Catholic. The church has a special ambiance,
particularly in the early morning hours and due to its intricate
design and architecture, is a fantastic place to film, and
a must for anyone interested in Jesus' life and the history
of Christianity.
The Via Dolorosa - literally “The
Path of Sorrow,” is also known as the “Way of
the Cross,” where Jesus Christ, condemned to death,
made his way, carrying the heavy cross on which he was to
be crucified. The traditional route of the Via Dolorosa
includes fourteen stations, where each station represents
a separate milestone in Jesus’ long walk from condemnation
to crucifixion.
The Garden Tomb – According to Protestant
tradition this enchanting garden contains the tomb of Jesus.
The burial cave was accidentally discovered in 1867 and
is a wonderful place to film in general and a must for those
interested in Protestant tradition. In the film Thomas Kinkade
Drawing the Holy Land, the famous American artist, Thomas
Kinkade, spent a couple of hours in the garden painting
the grave. It is a beautiful spot with religious significance
located conveniently in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s
Old City.
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