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Exterior mosaic, showing Christ praying. The Latin is Hebrews 5:7
The stags on top represent Psalm 42:1
Center Mosaic, above the rock. Donated by the
 Hungarian Catholics, the Mosaic depicts Christ
 praying in Gethsemane.
 Tuesday, Feb. 2, a few students and I explored the Old City some more. We went to the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mt., but I was glad we got to go to the Basilica of the Agony, (also known as the Church of all Nations). It was on my to do list, after not being able to enter last time I was here, and seeing pictures of the interior. It did not disappoint! Today I looked it up in a book from JUC's library, and just read a brief description of it. The Basilica is located next to the Garden of Gethsemane, and beneath the altar is the rock which Jesus supposedly prayed upon, the night before his crucifixion. Originally built by the Byzantine ruler Theodosius I in A.D. 380,
 the church was destroyed twice, once by Persians, and later by Muslim invaders. The basilica we see today was not built until 1924, but portions of the original Byzantine mosaic floor are visible through glass windows on the new floor, which follows the original Byzantine design.
There are 12 domes within the church, representing the 12 apostles. The mosaics on each dome vary slightly, and represent different nations who's Catholic communities founded the church. The interior of the church is kept dim, to remind those who enter of Christ's anguish on the night of his betrayal.

The inside of each dome represents a country
who's catholic community contributed to the building
of the church. This one is for the USA.

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