5 Spiritual Places All Christians Should Try and Visit

By John Callahan, Thursday, October 24, 2013

1. Tomb of the Patriarchs

- The Tomb of Patriarchs is located in Hebron, Israel. This is believed by many to be the burial spot of some of the most revered men in the Old Testament; Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. Also buried with them are their wives, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. The West Bank site is under siege by both the Muslim and Jewish Communities who are fighting for ownership. The walls around the Tomb were built by King Herod's men.

2. Bethlehem

- Bethlehem is known as the birth place of Jesus. He was known to be born in a manger and the Church of the Nativity is believed to be the location of His actual birth. The Church of the Nativity is considered to be the world's oldest church that still exists. Also, Christians who visit Bethlehem will be able to visit the burial of Rachel, Jacob's second wife.

A general view shows Palestinian villages (rear) around a Jewish settlement near Jerusalem known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Jabal Abu Ghneim April 25, 2012. Har Homa is a terraced suburb of neat, white-stone apartments housing 13,000 Israelis that overlooks the biblical town of Bethlehem. Picture taken April 25, 2012. | (Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

3. Via Dolorosa

- Arguably the most historically significant locations in the Christian faith. Via Dolorosa is the road Jesus was forced to walk to Golgotha where He was crucified. This is the road Jesus took after being handed his death sentence by Pontius Pilate. Christians symbolically have been walking this path for 2,000 years and following the footsteps of Jesus before He was cruicifed. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is at the end of Via Dolorosa and marks the exact spot that Jesus was put to death and was resurrected three days later.

Christian pilgrims carry a large wooden cross along Via Dolorosa towrds the Church of the Holy Sepulchre retracing Jesus Christ's steps toward his crucifixion during a Good Friday procession in Jerusalem Friday, April 14, 2006. (Photo: AP / Baz Ratner)

4. Nazareth

- Nazareth is known to be the town that Jesus spent most of his time growing up. For 2,000 years Christians have journeyed to Nazareth to visit the town where Jesus spent his childhood days. The Church of St. Joseph was built on top of a cave that once held the carpentry workshop of Joseph. This is the Church that Jesus went to as a young child.

Credit : (PHOTO: Wikipedia Common Credit) — (PHOTO: Wikipedia Common Credit)

5. The Mount of Beatitudes

- The Mount of Beatitudes is location to the most famous sermon ever given - The Sermon on the Mount was delivered here. It overlooks the beautiful Sea of Galilee where Jesus and his apostles fished. For many years it has been believed to be the exact location of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.