The Mount of Olives is best known for the huge cemetery that covers the mountain's western slopes and this is a good place to start your explorations. There are roughly 150,000 graves at the site, many dating back to the 16th century. The Jews believe that the Messiah will come back to Earth here and those buried the closest will be the first resurrected. The cemetery also offers panoramic views of the Old City that can be enjoyed as you wander past the graves of Nahmanides, a Jewish philosopher; Menachem Begin; the former prime minister of Israel; and Robert Maxwell, a media giant.
As your exploration of the cemetery takes you to the foot of the Mount of Olives you will find yourself in the Gardens of Gethsemane. In Hebrew the name is "Gat Shemanim," which translates into "oil press." Considering that next to the Church of All Nations there is an olive orchard with trees estimated to be somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 years old, the name is most appropriate. Since the Romans cut down all trees in 70 A.D., it is doubtful that any of the trees you are seeing were alive when Christ walked the Mount. It is hard to tell with olive trees since they have no growth rings. It is believed that Jesus prayed in this garden just before his crucifixion. Take a moment to ponder, then head for the Church of All Nations.
Twelve different countries pooled funds to build the Basilica of the Agony, or, as it is commonly known, the Church of All Nations. Completed in 1924, the church sits on the site of two previous churches, one a Byzantine basilica dating back to the fourth century that was leveled by an earthquake in the eighth century and a later Crusader church dating back to the 1100s. As you near the entryway, look up at the colorful mosaic crowning the doorway and see the artist's vision of God's link with humanity. Once inside, gaze up at the inlaid gold ceiling to find where each country that contributed has left its mark. Later churches worth a look are the Church of Mary Magdalene, a Russian Orthodox Church built in 1888, and the Dominus Flevit Church, built in 1955. During the construction, the excavations for the foundations uncovered ossuaries, or bone boxes, that dated from the time of Christ.
