by Stephen Blaxton
Some of the guys chose to spend the night praying in vigil at the Holy Sepulcher. Though extremely tired, they made it and are doing well this evening.
After the the mass at the Holy Sepulcher we visited Malachite Orthodox Patriarchate church which had perhaps some of the most stunning icons I have seen on the trip thus far. The entire inside of the chapel was covered with wall-sized icons of various biblical scenes and saints. Later, we visited St. Mark's Syrian Orthodox church, walked along the Jerusalem walls, and through the Jewish quarter of the Old City.
Also today, we transferred our living arrangements to the Bridgettine Sisters guest house on the Mt. of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount and the Old City just down the street from Garden of Gethsemane. The building itself was originally established as a clinic by the Vatican but later went out of service in this capacity. While still owned by the Vatican, the Bridgettine Sisters now run the place. They have been very gracious to us and have made a huge lunch and dinner leaving us all stuffed.
God Bless,
Steve Blaxton
Stephen Blaxton
Stephen Blaxton is a first-year Theology seminarian from the Diocese of Saginaw.