The Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives is a 3.5-kilometer-long ridge located east of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley. Its elevation is slightly higher than that of Jerusalem. At its foot are the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. It is said that Jesus and his disciples often gathered there, and it was also where Jesus was arrested by the Romans. It is one of the most famous churches outside the Old City of Jerusalem.

Many important events in the Bible took place on the Mount of Olives. During the last week of his life, Jesus came to Jerusalem and crossed the Mount of Olives daily to teach in the temple. The Bible records many of Jesus’s deeds and words on the mountain. Starting in the 4th century AD, many monasteries and churches were built on the Mount of Olives, and it became a popular pilgrimage site for Christians. In 70 AD, the Roman Tenth Legion camped on the Mount of Olives as they laid siege to Jerusalem, which led to the destruction of the Second Temple and the city.

The Mount of Olives is mentioned multiple times in the Bible. Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives to pray and preach the gospel of the kingdom. In particular, when Christ returns, He will descend upon the Mount of Olives. As the prophet Zechariah said: “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” (Zechariah 14:4).