Church of All Nations - Jerusalem, Israel

The Church of All Nations in Jerusalem is also known as the Basilica of the Agony. This was the first of many churches my wife and I visited after traveling from Tiberias to Jerusalem. The church dates back to the 4th Century, when a Byzantine Church was built at this location to commemorate Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Byzantine Church was destroyed by earthquake in 746. A Crusader Church was built over the Byzantine Church in the 12th Century only to be abandoned in the 14th Century. The current church was built in the early 1920s with contributions from 12 major donor countries. Those countries, which included the United States, are commemorated in the ceiling. The coat of arms of each country is proudly displayed in its own miniature dome inside the church.

The church is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives. It sits beside the Garden of Gethsemane. A large slab of rock inside the church is touted to be the very rock upon which Jesus prayed in the garden. The church is adjoined by an olive garden with trees the time of the Byzantine Church. The ancient trees are meticulously maintained.

Plaque inside the Garden

Stone lettering in the Garden

The story of Jesus' visit to the Garden, commemorated by this church, is found in Matthew 26 (NIV):

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Looking west from the front of the Church of All Nations* you can see the sealed East Gate into Jerusalem. This is prophesied to be the very gate that Jesus will enter Jerusalem. Although the gate he once entered is technically located below this gate. Their is an Islamic cemetery between the Church (and the Mount of Olives) where it is said Jesus will return. Some believe this was done because it is unlawful for a Jew to walk over a grave. It is also believed this was the reason for Muslims sealing up the gate five centuries ago. However, as Christians, we believe Jesus conquered death and can walk where he chooses to walk. The original gate was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and is not accessible, so I'm not sure how that fits into the prophecy. It is a moot point for those that believe Jesus will one day return. But interesting from a historic perspective, for those of us who have had the opportunity to experience the actual geography of the holy land.

At the entrance to the Church of the Agony is a sign that lays out the history of the church.

The chapel has a unique design, with three aisles that lead to a triple apse at the front of the church. Frescos on these calls depict significant stories related to the events at Gethsemane.

This church is not off the beaten path, although not clustered together with the many churches that sit on the Via Delarosa. It is an interesting link to the past, even though the structure itself is modern. It sits on the very foundations of two earlier churches that date back more than 1600 years. The olive trees have been dated to around that period, but may be older. It is a worthwhile stop on a tour of Jerusalem but will only take half an hour to an hour to visit. Please be sure to check out my other experiences in the Holy Land:

A Christian Guide to Israel

Hotels
Cinema Hotel Tel Aviv, Israel
Ron Beach Hotel, Tiberias, Israel
Prima Park Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel

Attractions
Caesarea National Park Caesarea, Israel
Mount Precipice Mount Kedimum, Israel
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride Tiberias, Israel
Yigal Alon Museum (Jesus Boat) Ginosar, Israel
Capernaum, Israel
St. Peter’s Restaurant Kinneret, Israel
Caesarea Phillipi Banias, Israel
Gadot Lookout and Memorial Golan Heights, Israel
Jordan River Baptismal Site Yardenit, Israel
Beit She’an National Park Beit She’an, Israel
Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel
Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel
Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
Western Wall Tunnels, Jerusalem, Israel
Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, Israel
Bethlehem New Store Gift Shop
Pool of Bethesda, Jerusalem, Israel
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel
House of Caiaphas the High Priest, Jerusalem, Israel
The Upper Room, Jerusalem, Israel
Tomb of King David, Jerusalem, Israel
Masada National Park, Masada, Israel
The Dead Sea, Masada, Israel

Churches
Discalced Carmelite Monastery Muhraqa, Israel
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth, Israel
St. Peter’s Church Capernaum, Israel
Church of the Multiplication Tabgha, Israel
Church of the Beatitudes Tabgha, Israel
Church of All Nations Jerusalem, Israel
Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, West Bank

Photos are my own. They may be used with permission.