Visit the Great Churches of Israel

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Few places in the world have the cultural significance of Israel. This significance, both theological and historic, is tied to from the myriad biblical sites throughout the country—everything from the town in which Jesus performed his first miracle, to the tomb of King David.

And among even the most sacred sites, there are some which yet stand out, places of such timeless significance that visiting them is virtually mandatory. The ancient churches of Israel—the birthplace of Jesus—are just such places, and they are considered some of the holiest sites in the world. Christians from across the globe make pilgrimages to these churches so that they might touch sites of greatest importance to the faith they hold dear.

Visiting the great churches of Israel is an experience like no other, and that journey can help bring your faith to life by pairing geography and history with words found in scripture. Have a glimpse at a few of these great churches, and have a taste of what could be one of the most important journeys of your life.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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The Church of the Holy Sepulcure lies in the Old City of Jerusalem, and many believe it is the site of the most important even in all of Christianity—the place where Christ died and rose again. The church also contains the site of Jesus’ crucifixion.

While the church is unassuming, the inside a sprawling maze of more than 30 different worship places, all shared amongst Greek Orthodox, Catholics, and Armenian Orthodox faiths. Several different architectural styles permeate the church as parts were destroyed and rebuilt and destroyed again throughout the years, and the interior is cramped and often heavily crowded.

Deep within, however, visitors can find the actual Tomb of Christ, its entrance flanked by massive candles. Here, the very air feels reverent and still, and there is a sense of the sacred unlike anything else. This is the place where Christ, Himself, rose from the dead.

Take a right turn at the entrance of the church and ascend a stone, spiral stair, and you’ll find yourself facing the top of the rocky outcrop upon which Christ was crucified. There is a silver disc in the floor marking the rock of Golgotha. Hundreds wait in line to touch the holy place and offer a prayer.

The Church of the Nativity

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The Church of the Nativity marks the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and is accessed by a doorway that is less than four feet high—a change made in the year 1500 to stop looters from driving carts into the church.

It is the oldest complete Christian church in the world, built in the 6th century, built over the area thought to be Jesus’ birthplace.

The church was spared destruction by the invading Persians in 614, who decided against its destruction when they saw, inside, a mosaic depicting the Three Wise Men in Persian regalia within the church

In the lower part of the church, there is a dimly lit rock cave, and it was possible that Jesus was born in this cave. A star with a hole in the center is embedded in the floor, and allows visitors to touch the original rock where the baby Jesus quite likely once rested.

Church of St. Mary Magdalene

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One of the most unusual sights in Israel is the image of the golden, floodlit onion-shaped domes that top the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdelene.

The church is dedicated to Mary Magdelene, a follower of Jesus who was once afflicted by seven demons, all of which were cast out by Christ. It was built in 1888 by Czar Alexander III of Russia, in memory of his mother, and its architectural style mirrors the architecture of Moscow during that time period.

The interior, plain and unassuming is home to two marble sarcophagi, each containing the body of a Russian Orthodox saint—Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Varvara Yakovleva.

The church also houses a 16th century icon of the Virgin Mary in a wooden case—one that is said to have miraculous powers.

The Church of Mary Magdalene is one of the most visually unique and spectacular churches that you’ll see while in Israel, so don’t miss out.

Church of St. James

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The Church of St. James, a 12th century Armenian church, is dedicated to the Christian saints, James the Greater—one of the first apostles of Christ, and James the Less, a close relative of Christ who went on to become the first bishop of Jerusalem. It is one of the few Crusader-era churches to survive in Israel, and lies within a walled Armenian compound in Jerusalem.

James the Greater was beheaded, a story captured in in Acts 12:2, and according to Armenian tradition, his head was buried on the grounds of the church. On the left side of the interior of the church, is a shrine that is said to be the place of James’ beheading. A square of red marble marks his burial site.

The church is only open to the public during service hours, when lengths of wood and brass called symandra are hung outside the entrance to summon the faithful to prayer.

St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Church

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The Church of St. Mark is home to the ancient site of the house of Mary, mother of St. Mark the Evangelist, and is also a possible setting of the Last Supper that Christ held with His disciples. Other events claimed to have occurred at the Church of St. Mark are the election of Matthias as an apostle, the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

St. Mark, also known as John Mark, was companion and interpreter to St. Peter. St. Mark's mother allowed members of the early Church to meet within her home—the same home that Peter fled to when an angel released him from prison in Acts 12: 12-17.

The church can be found in the northeastern corner of the Old City’s Armenian Quarter, and it employs the oldest surviving Christian liturgy, spoken in Syriac, the form of Aramaic that Christ spoke.