Excursion «9. Stalactite caves and monasteries»

This monastery was founded over 100 years ago by Trappist monks. One of their beliefs is that the name of God cannot be pronounced in the sua. The monks currently residing in the monastery spend their days mainly on physical work done in silence. There are special rooms in the monastery where they can talk, but the monks themselves try to do this as little as possible. At Latrunsky Monastery ptoduced the world-famous production: wine and olive oil and it can be bought in a nearby store. 

Four kilometers from Jerusalem in Ein Karem is the Gornensky Convent - one of the most visited tourist attractions.
It is believed that the monastery was built on the spot where the Virgin brought the message to the mother of St. John the Baptist about the upcoming birth of Christ. A source is visible near the monastery - from it the Mother of God gathered water.
The main church in the monastery is the Kazan Church - here is the famous Kazan icon of the Virgin. Near the church lies a stone - it is believed that John the Baptist read sermons, sitting on it.
There is a church shop in the monastery where every tourist can buy something interesting as a keepsake.
The territory of the monastery is neat and tidy: there are many plants and flowers, paths and benches. This is a place where it is cozy and calm, a place where everyone can relax their souls from everyday fuss.

One of the districts of Jerusalem, located on the outskirts of the city, is Ein Karem. This area consists of hills densely covered with vegetation, on which temples and monasteries are located.  In Ein Karem  John the Baptist was born.
In Ein Karem, a source holy to Christians beats, from which, according to legend, the Virgin Mary drank water (therefore, the source was named after her). On the territory of the Russian convent there is a stone, sitting on which, John the Baptist himself read sermons.
Ein Karem is a favorite place for tourists and residents of Jerusalem, because it is interesting both from a historical point of view and from a vacation point of view. Today, there are several restaurants in the Jerusalem area that serve a variety of local dishes.
A tour of the western outskirts of the city of Jerusalem will allow you to touch the history and enjoy the magnificent views from the hilly area.

An incredibly large accumulation of stalactites and stalagmites can be seen in the most famous cave in Israel - Sorek Cave, which was discovered in the middle of the last century.
Both stalactites and stalagmites were formed in this cave many thousands  years ago, some almost three hundred years, many of them are actively growing now. Traveling through the cave, it seems that this is a fairy-tale world where fairy-tale heroes live. The cave has lighting, the color of which changes every few minutes. Now blue, then green, then red lighting emphasizes the beauty of this place and makes it even more magical.
Before getting inside, guests are invited to visit the small cinema, where they show a film about this unusual attraction.
Traveling through this cave will give unforgettable impressions to adults, and for children Sorek Cave will become a real fairy tale, being in which you don’t want to return to reality.

The church, which is located in the village of Abu Ghosh, still remembers the crusaders - it was built in those days. Besides her, here you can admire the mosque and the monastery. The “Monastery of the Resurrection,” as it is called today, belongs to the Order of the Benedictines.

Beit Jamal is a Catholic monastery founded by Salesian monks in 1919.
The monastery has a small shop that offers olive oil and red wine locally produced.
There is a small concert hall where concerts take place on weekends.
Under the monastery very beautiful Venetian mosaic and ancient graves dating from about the 1st century were found  .
The views around the monastery are a stunning panorama of the El Valley and the western slopes of the Judean Mountains.
In Arabic and Hebrew, the place is known as Beit Jamal. The name is translated from Arabic as a  "beauty house."
Christian tradition holds that Raban Gamliel, St. the first martyr Stephen and Nicodemus (one of those who removed the body of Jesus from the Cross).
Israel’s first meteorological station was established in Beit Jamal in 1919 and is still working.