Ein Karem - Church of the Visitation

The Franciscan Church of the Visitation in the village of Ein Karem on the west side of Jerusalem, is named after the Virgin Mary's visit to the summer house of the parents of John the Baptist. Ein Karem, according to tradition, is the birthplace of John the Baptist.

 

The Virgin Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was first set in a place other than that of the birth of Saint John at the beginning of the 14th century: "Zechariah’s house is in the mountains of Judea.. In this place there are two churches… and between these churches flows a spring that is quite full of water. At the site of the first church, it is said, Elisabeth was greeted by the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also said that the blessed John the Baptist was hidden there during the Slaughter of the Innocents. At the site of the second church, the blessed John the Baptist was born" (Brother Giovanni Fedanzola of Perugia, 1330).

The mosaic on the face of the church illustrates the visit of Mary. She is shown riding a donkey; in the background is the village of Nazareth, her home town, and the place of her visit ("Ain Karim"). The verse in Latin is from Luke 1:39: "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah." The city of Judah is, according to the tradition, located in Ein Karem.

 

 

 

 

From the church, on the right side of the altar, is a tunnel that leads to an ancient well, seen below. From this well, as per the tradition, John and his parents drank from the water. In another corner is the spot where - according to tradition - John hid from the Romans behind a rock.

 

Another scene shows the Roman soldiers persecuting the mothers and killing their children in Bethlehem.  This is according to Matthew 2: 16: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men."

 

Notice the angel on the left shielding Elizabeth and her son John the Baptist behind a rock.

One of the altars in the church.

Beautiful fresco of Mary and the Child Jesus with the moon under her feet . . . reminds me of Revelation 12.

 

 

Another altar with an amazingly beautiful backdrop!

 

Close-up of the ornate altar at the bottom of the previous photo.

 

 

Beautiful mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

 

Kim at the top of the hill/mountain where the Church of the Visitation is located. Note the beautiful scenery below.

 

Norma and her four kids, Kathi, Vicki, Bill, and Pam -- what a great time they had together on this trip!

 

 

 

Ah yes . . . we did have to make our way back down the hill! It was quite a hike both ways!