Church of All Nations and Garden of Gethsemane

The Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of the Agony, stands on Jericho Road at the foot of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, Israel. The Franciscan custodians completed the present basilica in 1924 to a design by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi, and it was funded by contributions from twelve nations, whose names appear on the ceiling domes. Tradition holds that the church protects a slab of bedrock on which Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest, and that rock sits before the altar, ringed by a wrought-iron crown of thorns. The interior is deliberately dim, with violet alabaster windows and a dark blue ceiling studded with stars, which creates a contemplative atmosphere. Mosaics on the facade and inside depict the agony, the arrest and the kiss of Judas. The church stands over earlier Byzantine and Crusader churches, and parts of their mosaic floors are visible. Next door, the Garden of Gethsemane contains several ancient olive trees, which scientific testing has dated to roughly the 12th century and which are among the oldest in the region. Visitors cannot enter the inner fenced grove, but the walkways run close and a quiet bench area encourages reflection. The wider setting adds value, as the Tomb of the Virgin Mary is next door and the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene with its golden domes stands slightly uphill. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. Because the church is small, groups can fill it quickly. Crowds are heaviest from mid-morning through lunchtime, particularly in spring, and the quietest time is late afternoon when sunlight filters through the windows. Silence is expected, shoulders and knees must be covered, and photography is usually permitted outside services but not during Mass. The site is a ten- to fifteen-minute walk from Lions' Gate, and entry is free, with donations welcome.