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sites, biblical
Biblical sites are those holy places named in the
bible which became the sacred places for believers
of two religions: Judaism and Christianity. Mostly
located in Judea and Galilee, they have become the
most popular pilgrimage destinations.
The bible, also known as the Holy Scripture, is
the most sacred book of the Jewish and Christian
religions. It is also the most widely read and
influential book in history. Both religions consider it
to be the Word of God, and they base their most
important beliefs, ceremonies and holidays on it.
The bible consists of the Old and New Testaments
�Jews accept only the Old Testament, so it is known
as the Hebrew Bible). The first generation of
Christians preserved memories of Jesus's teachings,
deeds, and Crucifixion largely by word of mouth.
The New Testament was written to testify new
views of Christian faith born during the second
century ad. The church also wanted to preserve
the authentic story of Jesus's life and death in
writing for future generations of Christians.
The bible views God as the chief character of
the events it describes, founding evidence of God's
presence in the history of old Israel, the life of Jesus
Christ, and the development of the early church.
The bible refers to many events in the history of
ancient Israel and the early church. Such events
include the deeds of kings and the journeys of
apostles. There are many historical events covered
in the bible that represent the only or best
information about a particular period. Therefore,
many of the places mentioned in the Old
Testament are also archaeological sites in the
Middle East. These sites are often not directly
connected to the Jewish or Christian religions, but
bear evidence of, for instance, the Assyrian or
Sumerian cultures.
From the oldest times, pilgrimages ± that is,
visiting the sacred places ± became a vital part of
the religious life. Places of pilgrimage are sites of
apparitions, healings, miracles or omens. These
were ordinary places in the landscape. Later,
people added to these spots symbolic objects
representing the divinity, altars for sacrifices and
sites, biblical 537
offerings, and then buildings, `houses of gods' and
shrines protecting the altars and statues.
Pilgrimages to such holy places are simply a way
for a believer to learn about the earthly life of Jesus
and about the lives of the saints, with the aim of
strengthening faith. Catholics, especially in the
Middle Ages but also during many centuries until
today, made pilgrimages in solemn procession to
the Church of St Peter in Rome and St James in
Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
The most popular biblical place visited by
millions of people every year is Jerusalem, with
the holiest sites of Jews, the Western Wall �also
known as Wailing Wall), which was part of the holy
Temple during biblical times; and of Christians, the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is believed to
stand on the hill of Calvary �or Golgotha), where
Jesus was crucified and buried. Jerusalem is also a
holy place to Islam, and the city's holiest Muslim
shrine is the Dome of the Rock. There are many
other sites in Jerusalem and in other cities of old
Palestine, which are the sites connected with the
bible. One of them is the Rock. Jews believe that on
this Rock �the same from which Muslims believe
Muhammad rose to heaven with the angel Gabriel
and spoke with God) Abraham, the leader of the
ancient Hebrews, prepared to sacrifice his son,
Isaac, at God's command. Another one is the Via
Dolorosa �Way of Sorrows), which is believed to be
the route over which Jesus carried His cross to
Calvary. On Good Friday, a huge crowd of pilgrims
retraces the route to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre which rises at the end of Via Dolorosa.
Other places connected with Jesus's birth and
life, as named in the bible, are also among the most
popular sites for believers to visit and gather. They
include Mount Sinai �where Moses declared the
Ten Commandments), Bethlehem �where Jesus was
born), Nazareth �where Joseph, Mary's husband
was raised and where they settled with Jesus after
Herod died), Cana �where Jesus's first miracle took
place), the Mount of Olives with the Gethsemane
garden �where Jesus was arrested), the River Jordan
�with the water from the river where Jesus was
baptised), and many more.
BORIS VUKONIC Â ,CROATIA