Mount of Olives Jerusalem

The Mount of Olives, a long ridge to the east of Jerusalem, is the location of many biblical events. At 820 metres, it is Jerusalem’s highest peak and offers an unrivalled vista of the Old City and its environs.

The ridge, also called Mount Olivet, takes its name from the fact that it was once covered with olive trees.

In the Old Testament, King David fled over the Mount of Olives to escape when his son Absalom rebelled (2 Samuel 15:30).

After King Solomon turned away from God, he built pagan temples there for the gods of his foreign wives (1 Kings 11:7-8).

Ezekiel had a vision of “the glory of the Lord” ascending from the city and stopping on the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23).

Zechariah prophesied that in the final victory of the forces of good over the forces of evil, the Lord of hosts would “stand on the Mount of Olives” and the mount would be “split in two from east to west” (Zechariah 14:3-4).

A place for pilgrims to sleep

Until the destruction of the Temple, the Mount of Olives was a place where many Jews would sleep out, under the olive trees, during times of pilgrimage.

During the Siege of Jerusalem which led to the destruction of the city in AD 70, Roman soldiers from the 10th Legion camped on the mount.

In Jewish tradition, the Messiah will descend the Mount of Olives on Judgement Day and enter Jerusalem through the Golden Gate (the blocked-up double gate in the centre of the eastern wall of the Temple Mount, also known as the Gate of Mercy, or the Beautiful Gate).

For this reason, Jews have always sought to be buried on the slopes of the mount. The area serves as one of Jerusalem’s main cemeteries, with an estimated 150,000 graves.

Among them is a complex of catacombs called the Tombs of the Prophets. It is said to contain the graves of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, who lived in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, but the style of tombs belongs to a later time.

From Byzantine times the mount became a place of church-building. By the 6th century it had 24 churches, surrounded by monasteries containing large numbers of monks and nuns.

1. Mount of OlivesMount of Olives
JerusalemJerusalem
Mount of Olives todayMount of Olives todayMount of Olives today, circa 1899Mount of Olives today, circa 1899
The Mount of Olives The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in east Jerusalem with three peaks running is a mountain ridge in east Jerusalem with three peaks running
from north to south.from north to south.
The Mount of Olives is associated with Jewish and The Mount of Olives is associated with Jewish and
Christian traditions. From Biblical times until today, Christian traditions. From Biblical times until today,
Jews have been buried on the Mount of Olives. There Jews have been buried on the Mount of Olives. There
are an estimated 150,000 graves on the Mount.are an estimated 150,000 graves on the Mount.
The Mount of Olives is first mentioned in connection with David’s flight from Avshalom (II Samuel15:30): The Mount of Olives is first mentioned in connection with David’s flight from Avshalom (II Samuel15:30):
"And David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up." The ascent was probably "And David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up." The ascent was probably
east of the City of David, near the village of Silwan.east of the City of David, near the village of Silwan.
The Mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament as the route from Jerusalem The Mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament as the route from Jerusalem
to Bethany and the place where Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem. Jesus is said to have to Bethany and the place where Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem. Jesus is said to have
spent time on the mount, teaching and prophesying to his disciples, including the Olivet spent time on the mount, teaching and prophesying to his disciples, including the Olivet
discourse, returning after each day to rest, and also coming there on the night of his betrayal. At discourse, returning after each day to rest, and also coming there on the night of his betrayal. At
the foot of the Mount of Olives lies the Garden of Gethsemane. The New Testament, tells how the foot of the Mount of Olives lies the Garden of Gethsemane. The New Testament, tells how
Jesus and his friends sang together - "When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Jesus and his friends sang together - "When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the
Mount of Olives" Gospel of Matthew. Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives.Mount of Olives" Gospel of Matthew. Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives.
Garden of GethsemaneGarden of Gethsemane
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The Mount The Mount
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Olives Olives
JerusalemJerusalem
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The Mount of Olives – view from Kidron ValleyThe Mount of Olives – view from Kidron Valley

3. The Church of all Nations
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4. The Church of all Nations
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5. The Church of all Nations
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6. The Church of all Nations
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7. The Church of all Nations
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8. The Church of all Nations
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9. The Church of all Nations
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10. The Garden of GethsemaneThe Garden of Gethsemane
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11. The Garden of GethsemaneThe Garden of Gethsemane
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12. The Garden of GethsemaneThe Garden of Gethsemane
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13. The Garden of GethsemaneThe Garden of Gethsemane
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14. The Garden of GethsemaneThe Garden of Gethsemane
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15. The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena
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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

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The Church of Maria MagdalenaThe Church of Maria Magdalena

24. The Dominus Flevit Church The Dominus Flevit Church
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The Dominus Flevit Church The Dominus Flevit Church

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The Dominus Flevit Church The Dominus Flevit Church

27. View from the Dominus Flevit Church to the Jerusalem Old City View from the Dominus Flevit Church to the Jerusalem Old City
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28. The Church of Pater Noster The Church of Pater Noster
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The Church of Pater Noster The Church of Pater Noster

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The Church of Pater Noster The Church of Pater Noster

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The Church of Pater Noster The Church of Pater Noster

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The Church of Pater Noster The Church of Pater Noster

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The Church of Pater Noster The Church of Pater Noster

34. The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb
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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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The Mary’s TombThe Mary’s Tomb

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Created by Izabela & Miki PitishCreated by Izabela & Miki Pitish Music: Renata Tebaldi – Ave MariaMusic: Renata Tebaldi – Ave Maria