Page 28 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition
P. 28
"Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt"
(Jer. 31:4)
NEW PILGRIMAGE SITES AT
ISRAEL’S NATIONAL
PARKS
Miriam Feinberg Vamosh l Photos: INPA Ashkelon: Gateway to Southern Israel An ancient wall at Tel Ashkelon National Park.
Ashkelon National Park tells a powerful Photo: Manu Grinspan
Make sure to experience these story spanning 4,000 years. Here,
new highlights at Israel’s Samson attacked the Philistines after You’ll easily imagine Jesus gesturing
national parks on your they threatened his wife and her family toward Hippos-Sussita saying: “A city set
next Holy Land pilgrimage: (Judges 14:19). Ashkelon, once a Philistine on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).
At the new visitor center, powerhouse, thrived again in the Roman From lookouts set aside for prayer and
Tel Lachish, cutting-edge visual effects era, leaving behind the ruins of the largest contemplation, you’ll take in unforgettable
shed new light on fateful biblical events, basilica discovered so far in the Middle East, views of all the places you came to Galilee to
while Ashkelon’s ingeniously reconstructed and in the fourth century, after Christianity experience – where Jesus gathered disciples
basilica offers a novel look at the roots defeated paganism, the city’s believers built and apostles, taught and healed. Hippos-
of Christian architecture. High above the magnificent churches. After Christianity Sussita’s inhabitants, along with those of the
Sea of Galilee, Hippos-Sussita’s restored blossomed, believers quickly outgrew their other Decapolis cities, likely knew of Jesus’
archaeological marvels bring the Gospels “house churches” (Acts 2:46, 12:12 and teachings and miracles (Matthew 4:25).
alive, while the Enot Tsukim Visitor Center 16:40) and adopted the architecture of the Walking the ancient streets evokes Jesus’
unveils the Dead Sea’s natural wonders. At former Roman basilica – a vast hall that parables with an “urban” flavor Matthew.
Caesarea Maritima, be among the first to pagans once used for public proceedings. 6:5), Nearby hills may have witnessed the
enter “Paul’s prison cell.” To top it all off, join Ashkelon’s newly reconstructed basilica miracle of the swine (Matthew 8:28–34),
the innovative program “Touching Time” to blends ancient statuary and ultra-modern while the words of Psalm 148 just beg to
restore biblical sites with your own hands. design to illuminate the roots of later be recited in this stunning natural setting:
Christian architecture. Take this opportunity “Praise the Lord… mountains and hills…
Lachish Visitor Center: Prequel to a to continue from Ashkelon, Israel’s southern wild animals and all cattle.”
Miracle gateway, to visit Negev communities,
At Lachish National Park visitor center, bond with its people, and encourage their Enot Tsukim Nature Reserve: Where the
history intertwines with a state-of-the- resilience as they work to rebuild themselves Dead Sea Springs to Life
art video experience. This powerful city of at this fateful time. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has
Judah fell to the Assyrian King Sennacherib, unveiled a brilliant new visitor center at Enot
who boastfully plastered his palace walls Hippos-Sussita National Park – “A City on Tsukim Nature Reserve near the Dead Sea,
with intricate reliefs that immortalized a Hill”
his vicious conquest – these have been Towering over the storied Sea of Galilee, at
meticulously reconstructed on the center’s Hippos-Sussita National Park, over 20 years
walls as an integral part of the presentation. of excavations have revealed a stunning
Confident of victory, Sennacherib marched Roman-Byzantine city featuring eight
on to Jerusalem, where an angel of death churches, a baptistery, intricate mosaics, a
devastated his army, miraculously sparing Roman forum, a basilica, a theater, and more.
the Holy City (2 Kings 18–19; Isaiah 36–37). With its new visitor center, touring routes,
and thoughtfully designed and engaging
Before you tour and touch stones that signage, the park brings ancient life into
actually witnessed the events, the visitor vivid focus.
center will take you from the tragic fall
of Lachish to the miraculous survival of
Jerusalem, leaving you awestruck by the
resilience of faith and heritage.
28 l HOLY LAND