Many people like to travel and I am not an exception. I would like to tell you about my last trip. Last year my family decided to travel to Israel and I was very pleased with that decision. For me, it was great to be on the beach of Death Sea, to admire the ancient walls and pathways of Nazareth and Jerusalem, and at the list to be in Armenian Church in Jerusalem where by the way I was Christened when I was a child. It was really fantastic, I felt something quite powerful, some positive energy which I can not explain by words.
The first place where we went, was the Old City of Jaffa, or Yafo, an old port city with narrow alleyways and buildings resting on top of a hill. Some alleyways were named after 12 signs of Zodiac, so everyone tried to find their own sign and take a photo. But the most impressive thing for me was the Armenian Convent of Saint Nicholas which I found in Old Yafo.
Next place where we went was Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and then resurrected to the Western Wall, the holiest site for Jews, where prayers are written on paper and wedged into the cracks of the wall. As you know Armenians have their honorary place in Church of the Holy Sepulcher, so when we went to greet our compatriots, they allowed us to rise on the second flor of church from where there was an excellent view of the Holy Sepulcher.
The next point was the little town Bethlehem. the place where Jesus was born…As you know it is under the control of the PA ( Palestinian Authority) so it requires a tour to pass the checkpoint. The Grotto of the Nativity, where Jesus is said to have been born, is an underground cave in the crypt of the Church of the Nativity underneath the main altar. It is marked by the Altar of Nativity and a 14-pointed silver star with the Latin inscription that translates to “Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary”-1717. The grotto is the most popular site in Bethlehem, so expect crowds and long lines. By the way, Armenians have the privilege and can come up and see out of turn.
The last place was we have visited was Nazareth. It is the largest Arab town in Israel, with a mixed population of Christian and Muslim Arabs. It’s also thought to be where Jesus spent his adolescence. The city’s main sightseeing highlight is the Church of the Annunciation. On the floor of the church is a large octagonal opening with a view of the lower level and the older structures below — the Grotto of the Annunciation and the remains of the earliest churches on the site.
I am very pleased with my trip and I believe that every Christian should visit these holy places in one’s life.
Alleyways in old Jaffa 
Alleyways in old Jaffa 
Church of the Holy Sepulcher 
Church of Holly Sepulcher 
Place where Jesus Christ was born at the Nativity church in Bethlehem
Church of the Annunciation 
Church of the Annunciation
Վովա Չոբանյանի բլոգ 