My Favorite Shrines

Living in the Holy Land brings a lot of excitements and disappointments. The excitement comes from throwing rocks at military vehicles and then running... (This is a joke; please do not try this on your trip here). What I meant to say was there is excitement from being in the place where so much incredible history took place. There are "holy sites” for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. If you prefer "unholy" sites there are plenty of ancient ruins from pagan temples, Roman cities, and U.N. installations.

What some may find disappointing however, is the fact that at the location where these events took place, people have erected churches, mosques, and museums over the sites. Even if there is no historical validity to the claims at a certain location, the followers of that faith (especially the Christians I am sorry to say) designate a location as the actual place of its occurrence and they make the "Church of Something Happened Here". Pilgrims come from around the world to see these sites and if you take the time you can ignore the spectacle that is built all around the site and actually have a meaningful experience. But if you just come to see the landscape as it existed in ancient days you will be disappointed.

Some of the sites seem to me that they might be a bit over-spiritualized but who am I to judge? I am just here to give you my Top Ten List of most creative "holy sites".
10. The Church of the Multiplication of the Fish and the Loaves (This is actually an amazing building with mosaics on the floor that are worth a visit. It even is in the approximate region of this miracle, but the rock that marks the exact location where Jesus set the loaves of bread might be a bit speculative).
9. Masada- This is a fortress built high upon a cliff and served as a location for Hasmonean occupation, Herod's vacation palace, and later in history, Crusader and Roman fortresses. The location is most famous for the Jewish Essenes who held out there during the revolt around 70 AD. It now commemorates the strength of the people there who all killed their families before killing themselves so that the Romans would not get the pleasure of doing so.
8. The Dome of the Rock. This is the Muslim shrine built on the "rock" where Mohammed is said to have ascended. It just happens to also be placed on the Jewish temple mount and on the site where Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.
7. The Dormitian Abbey. This is the German church that marks the place where Mary fell asleep (okay... where she died). The crypt is worth a visit so don't pass this by.
6. The church of the Flagellation (not flatulation). This is the location where Jesus is said to be handed over and scourged. This marks the beginning of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem (The "way of sorrows" that Jesus walked on the way to the cross. Recent archaeology unfortunately places this site on the opposite end of the city, which would completely re-draw the entire Via Dolorosa.
5. The Upper Room- this is the place where the disciples had the last supper with Jesus. If you ignore the fact that the building was built in the 11th century by the Crusaders you can really see why this site is so popular. If you prefer a more accurate location, go to the outdoor market called Mahane Yehuda and look for the man with a jar on his head. For five shekels he will take you to his version of the last supper room. Unfortunately it turns out that his room is the location where Jesus (a tour guide from Mexico) dined with his friends before heading back to Mexico.
4. The Church of the ascension.
It is not the fact that they believe that Jesus ascended here, it is the fact that 300 years later they discovered Jesus' actual footprint in the dirt and then made it into a concrete cast. (What luck!)
3. This is a tie. The chapel in the Armenian church containing the head of James the brother of Jesus and the chapel in the Church of the ascension containing the head of John the Baptist. If I ever lose my head I kindly request that someone build the "Church Where Ryan Lost His Head" in my honor... thanks.
2. The Church of the Kathisma (This is the church of the rock that Mary sat on when she rested on her way to Bethlehem. I guess she wasn't riding a donkey).
1. The Milk Grotto- this is by far the most creative holy site. It is here where there are two spots on a rock that is believed to be milk from the mother Mary that spilled while feeding Jesus.

Now that I have offended people from the world's three major religions I must also say that all of these places are worth visiting. Sometimes negative publicity is the best form of promotion!