If you’re an Episcopalian or Anglican visiting Jerusalem—or if you just want to a quiet and serene place to rest in the middle of the busy city—visit St. George’s Cathedral in East Jerusalem.
The stately stone structure is a little bit of England in heart of the Middle East. Constructed in the 1890s and named for the patron saint of England, it is the home parish for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which covers five countries.
The complex includes a pilgrims hostel and St George’s College, a residential education center offering courses on the Holy Land to both lay and clergy from around the world.
Just down the road you can also visit the Garden Tomb, a shady area that was identified by a British general at the end of the nineteenth century as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial (he thought its hill was shaped like the skull referred to in the Gospel account of Jesus’ death).
Though there is no historic evidence that this is indeed the site, the Garden Tomb tends to be a more contemplative place for prayer than the bustling interior of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City.
Lori Erickson is one of America’s top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She’s the author of the Near the Exit: Travels With the Not-So-Grim Reaper and Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world.
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