“…And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up…”
Being inspired by the changing times I have decided to fulfil my personal mission and travel to Jerusalem. The decision to visit Israel came to me quite spontaneously. I bought tickets a few days in advance. It happen that I bought those tickets by chance and sort of special vocation - to be in the country from the beginning of Jewish Holidays, Rosh HaShanah, September 20th, 2017 – to the end of Sukkot, October 11th, 2017.
In fact I arrived to Tel Aviv before holidays have started, but on September 20th, 2017. I took bus from the capital to Jerusalem late evening. Of course it was a budget trip and I decided to stay in hostels, which was a perfect solution. Rosh HaShanah or Yom Teruah, literally “day of shouting or blasting” is the Jewish New Year. They eat traditional food and sound shofar.
I woke up at the roof of the Citadel Youth Hostel on the Jewish New Year. It was a beautiful sunshine morning. From the top I was able to see all Jerusalem and listen to the Muslim call to prayer. I dressed up and left for the city. Being driven by sort of instinct I straight went to the Olive Garden and to the Russian Church and Ascension Tower. It was like one hour trip again being driven by instinct.
At the church with the tower, which you can see at the picture above at the very top of it, I saw a rock that to me was a place where Jesus could have given his life. I did not know what church I was, and what I was touching. There was a group of Russian pilgrims there, I sat among them, took a break and meditated. I had a very personal feeling like I would be passing 2000 years.
In the church I have met old sister, whom I left with Polish sweets and a small gift of chill rock. She thanked me and warned me against bad people outside there, which was very kind of her.
From internet I have learnt about the same spot, which got refurbished.
"Behind the church, on its right side, is a rock behind a blue fence. This rock is according to tradition the place where Virgin Mary stood when Jesus ascended to heaven. The blue cross above the rock is the symbol of the Russian church. The lower bar is tilted, and symbolizes the two robbers that were crucified with Jesus (the top left side is the “good” robber). Another interpretation is that the lower bar is the footrest, and usually another small bar appears in the top side of the cross symbolizing the inscription over Jesus head.”
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