Gethsemane facts for kids
Gethsemane is a famous garden located at the bottom of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It is best known as the place where Jesus and his disciples prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion. This event is a very important part of the Christian faith.
Contents
What is Gethsemane?
Gethsemane is a beautiful garden filled with ancient olive trees. Its name comes from the Aramaic words "Gat Shemanim," which means "oil press." This name makes sense because the garden was likely used to press olives into olive oil.
The garden is on the eastern side of Jerusalem, just across the Kidron Valley from the Old City. It's a peaceful place that has been visited by pilgrims for thousands of years.
A Place of Prayer and Sadness
Gethsemane is most famous for the events that happened there just before Jesus was crucified. The Bible tells us that Jesus went to the garden with his disciples to pray. He knew what was about to happen and felt very sad.
While Jesus prayed, his disciples fell asleep. This part of the story shows Jesus' deep faith and his human feelings of sorrow. It is often called the "Agony in the Garden."
The Betrayal
After Jesus finished praying, Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, arrived with a crowd of soldiers. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, showing the soldiers who to arrest. This sad event also took place in Gethsemane.
Gethsemane Today
Today, Gethsemane is still a sacred place. Many people visit it to remember the events that happened there. There are several churches in the area that mark different parts of the garden.
Church of All Nations
One of the most famous churches is the Church of All Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony. This church was built over a rock where Jesus is believed to have prayed. It has a beautiful mosaic on its front.
Ancient Olive Trees
Inside the garden, you can see very old olive trees. Some experts believe these trees could be thousands of years old. They might even be descendants of the trees that stood there during Jesus' time. These trees are a living link to the past.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
Garden of Gethsemane
-
Garden of Gethsemane, 1914
-
Andrea Mantegna's Agony in the Garden, circa 1460, depicts Jesus praying in the Gethsemane while the disciples sleep and Judas leads the mob
-
A friendly robot
