History

The cradle of the Christian faith

The Holy Land is home to many of the most important religious sites for the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

For Christianity, the area is sacred. It is the place where Jesus Christ lived and preached and the region is full of sites associated with Jesus’ life and mission.

Around 2.5 billion Christians around the world understand the Holy Land as the cradle of their faith, and millions of Christians make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

There has been a continual Christian presence since the time of Christ.

In 1922 the Christian population stood at about 11% of the regional total. Today it is as low as 1%.

The Holy Land is home to many sites that are sacred to Christians around the world

  • Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, the site of Christ’s death and resurrection
  • Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, the site of Christ’s birth
  • Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, the path that Jesus took to his crucifixion
  • Mount of Olives, Jerusalem , where Jesus ascended into heaven
  • Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem, where Jesus prayed before he was betrayed
  • Upper Room, Jerusalem, the site of the Last Supper
  • Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus
  • Mount of Beatitudes, Galilee, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount