Jerusalem is quite literally the epicenter of the world - in terms of landmap but also spiritually.
Above: Evangelic Christian author Joel Rosenberg has popularized the view that Jerusalem is the "epicenter" of the current events...
For Christian, this is were the Lord Jesus Christ preached, was crucified, rose again, and ascended into heaven. In the book of Acts, it is the "mother Church" of Pentecost.
Above and below: the temple of the Holy Scepulcher was built during the days of the Roman Empire on the location of the tomb of Christ and to this day it is the headquarters of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.
Do you ever wonder what happened to the holy sites and to the historic community of Jerusalem after the destruction of 70 AD and through the age of the crusades?
The Orthodox have remained since day - owners and custodians of the holy sites. Every year, Orthodox Christians from all over the world gather in Jerusalem to celebrate Pascha - the resurrection of the Lord.
Which leads to a question. Why not be in full communion with the ancient Church of Jerusalem? If you go to Jerusalem and ask the locals about the "original ancient Church" here - they will point you to an Orthodox place of worship with they still call "Roman"- a reference to the Roman Empire?
Which leads us to a critical question: what is "the Church?" Where is it? What are its marks? How can you recognize "the Church" in the midst of man-made organization that come and go? For more in this critical topic (after all Jesus said "I will build MY church" and St Paul wrote that the Church is the "pillar and foundation of truth," - read this PDF.
Apostolic roots. Apostolic faith - unchanged. Apostolic worship - "on earth as it is in heaven..." |