Saint John of the Desert & Church Tomb of Elizabeth
I visited this church/church tomb during our class field trip on the way to Ein Karem. It was a very simple and quiet place. I recall being impressed by the golden paintings in the church of St. John in the Desert, and found it interesting that the words on the paintings were in Hebrew. I learned that this is because John was a Jew, and devoted to Jewish teachings. He was so devoted in fact that he decided to live as a monk in the desert and dedicate his life to God. My teacher taught us that what is called a “desert” in the scriptures actually meant a quiet place, and in fact was a forest, similar to what this area looks like today with trees, caves, and running water. According to the Bible John lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry (See Luke 1:80).
After walking through the church we went along a path that led us to a church monastery where a Dutch Protestant Nun, dressed in light blue, was waiting to teach us a little about the church tomb of Elizabeth. Tradition says that when Elizabeth died, her son John buried her here. The nun said that although they don’t know if this is a fact, the place is nevertheless sacred because of the prayers that are offered here. I couldn’t agree more with her and think that is the case with most areas throughout the Holy Land where the thought really does count along with the prayers. Come to think of it, there is probably no place in the world where there is so much prayer offered from so many religions as there is in the Holy Land, a title I find quite suiting when given that perspective.
After walking through the church we went along a path that led us to a church monastery where a Dutch Protestant Nun, dressed in light blue, was waiting to teach us a little about the church tomb of Elizabeth. Tradition says that when Elizabeth died, her son John buried her here. The nun said that although they don’t know if this is a fact, the place is nevertheless sacred because of the prayers that are offered here. I couldn’t agree more with her and think that is the case with most areas throughout the Holy Land where the thought really does count along with the prayers. Come to think of it, there is probably no place in the world where there is so much prayer offered from so many religions as there is in the Holy Land, a title I find quite suiting when given that perspective.