Jerusalem 2000

THE CELEBRATION OF THE 2000^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
During January15-22 of the year 2000, there was an Armenian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to celebrate the "2000^th Anniversary of the Birth of Christ". According to Armenian tradition, a practicing Christian would go on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem at least once in his or her lifetime to visit the places of the Bible such as the Holy Sepulchre, Mount of Olives, Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem, Garden of Gethsemane, Wailing Wall, Nazareth…and more!

In the early 20^th century, archaeologists unearthed in Jerusalem a series of mosaics with Armenian inscriptions. The script used in the inscriptions resembles the type developed by St. Mesrob Mashtots, the 5^th –century creator of the Armenian Alphabet.

The Armenian Church of Jerusalem was chronologically the first Christian church in history, and the first Bishop of that church was St. James, called "the Brother of our Lord" in the Gospels.

The present-day "Armenian Quarter" in Jerusalem is home to a closely-knit community of hundreds of Armenian families. Enclosed within the present quarter are the St. James Monastery, the Monastery of the Holy Archangels, the Holy Saviour Monastery…and others!

The spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land to commemorate the Birth of Christ was a colossal event, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the land of Jesus Christ. For those participating it was a memorable visit that will be cherished for a lifetime!

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