Hagia Sophia- Istanbul

 

Istanbul at one time was the central city for Christendom. At that time it was called Constantinople. It was the center of four Empires . The history here is so rich because it is the crossroads where East meets West. It is also a place where Islam and Christianity have switched back and forth depending on who conquered whom. Hagia Sophia, originally a church, then converted to a mosque and now a Museum tells the story better than any words can express. The Icon of Christ alongside the Islamic Calligraphy demonstrates the rich religious history. We are learning much about the history of Islam in Turkey as well as how it is practiced in a democracy and by well educated people.

Oasis of Peace

We are visiting this village called Neve Shalom--Wahat al-Salam, "Oasis of Peace". I first heard about it through a Bill Moyers documentary on this community. They are a village of Jews and Palestinian Arabs of Israeli citizenship. The members are demonstrating the possibility of coexistence between Jews and Palestinians by developing a community based on mutual acceptance, respect & cooperation. They have many programs that bring people together of different faith traditions, ideologies, ethnicities and give them a safe place to listen to others and express their own views. A model that I call hospitality. Many are secular in their religion. They are committed to peace, justice and reconciliation in an environment that is headed in the opposite direction. It is so interesting to talk to them and learn of their journey. They have an elementary school of 200+ that starts at preschool age to model a different way.

Caesarea National Park

This was excavated at Caesarea and was able to see it while we visited the Unesco Site of Caesarea National Park. The Inscription mentions Emperor Tiberius on the first line and Pontius Pilate on the second. It is the only archeological evidence for the governorship of Pontius Pilate in Palestine that dates back to the First Century. This site is where Herod built an incredible Palace, Temple to Augustus, Hippodrome, Theater etc. all on the Mediterrianian Sea. The site is one of my favorites in Israel.

Marc Chagall Exhibition

 

"I did not see the Bible, I dreamed it. Ever since early childhood, I have been captivated by the Bible. It has always seemed to me and still seems today the greatest source of poetry of all time." Chagall. Went to an exhibition of Marc Chagall in Haifa and was impressed by his ability to capture biblical themes in creative ways. His paintings and drawings express biblical themes, contemporary Judaism, and the Holocaust in such a way as to captivate your imagination. His childhood was filled with the Hasidic Jewish Religion and Culture of his small Lithuanian Village. This quote expresses his sentiments.

AKKO

We visited Acre (Akko) , An Unesco site on the Northern part of the Mediterranean Sea that is very close to the border of Lebanon. The history here is so varied and rich. The Apostle Paul came through this port on route to Ceasarea when the city was named Ptolemais. This huge hall is from the Crusader Era, when the city served as an important port and fortification for crusaders to conquer the Holy Land. Good place to film an episode of the Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights.

 

Hiking Galilee

 

We spent the last six days hiking from Nazareth to Capernaum. With side trips to see towns mentioned in the Gospels, we averaged about ten miles a day. It was so nice to be able to get a feel for the topography and difficulty that Jesus and his disciples experienced when traveling around Galilee. These photos are typical of region. This area reminds me so much of Chelan, Washington. Galilee is a region that is made up of a large body of water, steep hills, a few mountains and productive agricultural land.

Caesarea Philippi

We visited the modern day area of Banias. This Nature Reserve area is referred to in the Bible as Caesarea Philippi and is the place where Jesus took his disciples for a "retreat" and discussed with them who the general public thought Jesus was. This is where Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. The area is so lush and beautiful. We saw a wild boar in the bushes while hiking. This is one of the headwaters of the Jordan River.