🫒 Garden of Gethsemane
Israel
About This Sacred Site
The Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, is where Jesus is believed to have prayed in anguish on the night before his arrest and crucifixion. The garden contains eight ancient olive trees that are among the oldest in the world, with some estimated to be over 2,000 years old — potentially alive during Jesus's time. Adjacent to the garden stands the Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony), built in 1924 over the rock where Jesus is said to have prayed. The church's dark interior and purple-tinted windows create an atmosphere of sorrow and contemplation. Franciscan monks have tended the garden since the 17th century.
Key Facts
- •Contains eight olive trees estimated to be over 2,000 years old
- •The name 'Gethsemane' comes from the Aramaic for 'oil press'
- •The Church of All Nations was built by 16 countries, each donating a mosaic dome section
- •The rock where Jesus prayed is preserved inside the Church of All Nations
- •Franciscan monks have been custodians of the garden since the 17th century
Location
Coordinates: 31.7793, 35.2396
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