Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where, according to the four Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus underwent the agony in the garden and was arrested the night before his crucifixion. It is a place of great resonance in Christianity.
Source: https://southslopenews.com/why-is-the-garden-of-gethsemane-important/
The word ‘Gethsemane’ is not English in origin. It is actually traced as far back as the original Greek version of the Scriptures. However, the name itself has its roots in the Aramaic word ‘Gadsmane’ which literally means wine press for oils.
What Is The Garden Of Gethsemane?
The Garden of Gethsemane is a garden that also doubles as one of the most venerated sites in Christianity and in Judaism. In terms of size, the Garden of Gethsemane covers an area of 1,200 square meters so it is relatively big. Some of the most unique and stunning features of the Garden of Gethsemane are some really old olive trees in the garden. These olive trees are incredibly old – they are almost 1,000 years in age according to those who have documented them properly. Imagine a tree surviving for about a millennium and still thriving, that is clearly something impressive.
Talking of olive trees, some of the olive trees found in the Garden of Gethsemane are actually some of the oldest on the planet. This was confirmed by scientists who carried out a series of carbon dating tests and analyses to get the precise age. As a matter of fact, the studies also showed that all the olive trees in question were actually from the same plant and they are still very much alive today. Some Christians believe strongly that these trees are actually over 2,000 years old and that the trees provided shade to Jesus Christ and his disciples during their periods of challenges and tribulations.
One of the most remarkable things about this is that olive oil is still extracted from these trees even till today. It is this seemingly timeless and eternal nature of these trees that has baffled millions across the globe.
Where Is The Garden Of Gethsemane?
The Garden of Gethsemane is located below the equally-famous Mount Olives in the holy city of Jerusalem. Its location follows the regular path from the Temple to the Mount of Olives towards the direction of Bethany.
Not far from the garden itself is the area called the Grotto of Gethsemane. According to the records, it was at this grotto that Jesus Christ alongside the disciples that followed him set up their camp. Another interesting detail with this grotto is that it is believed that the disciples fell asleep while inside this grotto. While they were deep in their sleep, Jesus Christ was outside praying and consumed by grief and palpable sadness. In order to remember these events, there are very lovely paintings inside the grotto that symbolize events such as the betrayal of Jesus Christ and even the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary.
The calm nature of the environment and the cool ambiance provided by the trees make the area ideal for activities like praying and meditating. It is not noisy and everyone will fall in love with the tranquil atmosphere. This explains why many of the visitors to the Garden of Gethsemane describe the place as truly thought-provoking.
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The Gethsemane and Its Sacred Olive Oil
The Garden of Gethsemane is a small grove consisting of eight ancient olive trees located at the foot of the Mount of Olives just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Its name derives from the Aramaic word gat semãnê, which means ‘olive press’ and suggests the presence of a mill in ancient times.
Father Diego Dalla Gassa
To know that these olive trees were present at the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to be here now and see that they still bear fruits is an incredible feeling.
This piece of land is famous because, according to the Gospels written by Matthew and Mark, here is where after the Last Supper Jesus retired with His disciples to pray, when He was betrayed by Judas and arrested by soldiers and Pharisees.
The Gospels and other sacred texts, confirmed by archeological finds, are considered reliable sources on the life of Jesus, who is the founder of Christianity but is praised and respected also by other religions. The Agony He suffered during the last night of His life at Gethsemane gave this place a deep spiritual significance which reaches its peak during Easter celebrations.
The Holy Week has just ended when we talked with the 44-year-old Italian Franciscan friar Father Diego Dalla Gassa, who is in charge of the Hermitage of Gethsemane, to learn more about these special olive trees.
“The Custody of the Holy Land followed the research activities carried out in the olive grove during a study realized by experts in biology and plant physiology from Italian universities and the National Research Council,” he explained. The project coordinated by Giovanni Gianfrate and Antonio Cimato, aimed at evaluating the state of preservation of the olive trees, showing that the portion of them which is currently visible dates back to the mid-12th century.
“But certainly, the original part of the plants is much older,” Fra Diego said. “We well know that it is difficult to determine the exact age of secular olive trees due to the deterioration of the most ancient section of the trunk. The CNR estimated that the aerial part of the trees is relatively young, probably due to actions taken by the Crusaders, when they arrived in Jerusalem, to preserve them better.”
The actual level of the soil is higher than that at the time, due to stratified deposits over the ages. “Analysis on root-core samples showed not only that the olive trees belong to a unique original variety, but also that, extraordinarily, all of them have the same DNA which means that certainly they were propagated by cuttings from a mother plant,” Fra Diego revealed.
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What I learned while praying in the (empty) Garden of Gethsemane during Lent
What does it mean to know a garden? To understand its seasons, to recognize the branches where birds rest? What does it teach us when we return to the same garden time and time again, to listen and learn from the trees?
I have found myself asking these questions this year in Jerusalem, where I live. In this fraught time, I read the Gospels differently, and lines I used to overlook now emerge from the page. This month, it has been a phrase from the Gospel of Luke: “Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called.”
Such a simple line, and yet I can’t stop thinking of it. Jesus had a place that he loved, and he returned there.
The line calls me. So in this year, with the pilgrims gone and the holy places nearly empty, I set out to spend some time on the Mount of Olives to see what I can learn from the ancient trees.
On a morning in late February, I walk through the entrance to Gethsemane to find the garden empty, save for a gardener pulling weeds away from the stone paths. In front of me stand the massive, gnarled trunks of the oldest olive trees—protected by a fence—eight of which tradition says were witnesses to Jesus’ passion. Birds sing, flitting from branch to branch. The space has briefly returned to what it is: a garden. I take a seat. I try to stay awake.
Wally Hawa, a Palestinian who works there, sees me and says hello. “Usually there are 80 tour buses a day here,” he remarks. “Enjoy the quiet.”
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Further reading on ancient olive groves
Restoring Abandoned Olive Trees at Leonardo da Vinci’s Home
https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/world/restoring-abandoned-olive-trees-at-leonardo-da-vincis-home/100543
