May 15—This morning we immersed ourselves in the world of John the Baptist. He is a fascinating figure, the forerunner of the Messiah, and a much more prominent person in his lifetime than Jesus Christ. We visited two churches in Ein Kerem where he is especially remembered.
One is built on a site that many believe was the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth (his parents). A small grotto in the lower part may even have been his birthplace. Certainly it is remembered as such.
A short ways away is the Church of the Visitation, where a delightful statue of Mary and Elizabeth together graces the courtyard. One wall is covered with ceramic tiles bearing the words of the Magnificat in 42 languages.
Not far away, a very recent archeological excavation on a kibbutz uncovered the “Cave of John the Baptist.”
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