Reflection by: Nicholas Cabawatan
Chronicles of a pilgrim – Day 2
#sequelachristi2022
Caesarea
On the morning of the second day, we were blessed with great weather! We checked out of the hotel and headed to Caesarea.
Caesarea was initially an ancient Phoenician settlement known as Straton’s Tower. It was rebuilt in 22-10 BCE by King Herod, and renamed for his patron, emperor Caesar Augustus. It then became the capital of the Roman province of Judaea in 6 CE.
The city was an important center of early Christianity. In the New Testament, Caesarea has connections with Peter, Philip the Apostle, and Paul who was imprisoned there before being sent to Rome for trial. Cornelius, the first Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit, lived here (Acts 10:1–8). Caesarea is also the place that is the most mentioned in the book of Acts.
We had the opportunity to see the Roman hippodrome where horse and chariot races were held. Then to the site of where the palace of King Herod was once. Near the area, we saw the pilate stone which is the first and only mention of Pontius Pilates’ name ever unearthed. Then, to the Roman amphitheater where our lovely tour guide, Josef, played us a piece with his flute.
(Right) The Pilate Stone
Unsurprisingly, I was drawn to and in awe of the view of the Mediterranean Sea from the site. The sea reminded me of the vastness and depth of God’s love for me. And the sand by the shore, his many thoughts of me.
Muhraka (Peak of Mount Carmel)
Off we went to the Muhraka Monastery! The Muhraka Monastery is a Carmelite monastery that sits on top of the highest peak of the Carmel mountains. Mount Carmel was the traditional home of the prophet Elijah who is the saint and patron of the Carmelite Order.
Muhraka is actually Arabic and means “a place of burning,” in reference to the story relayed in the Bible whereby a fire came down from heaven and burnt the prophet Elijah’s offering when he battled the Ba’al prophets (Acts 18:20-40).
While walking in the Monastery, climbing to the highest point, there were many other pilgrims as well on their own journeys that have come to see the monastery and the view from the peak. The view was magnificent. We could see Nazareth, Mount Tabor, Mount Heron, and many other landmarks.
I felt very small in all compared to the huge lands before me. I was also reminded that where I am, all of this in front of me, was where Jesus walked, lived, and loved. It is such a privilege to be here, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, and being able to visualize biblical history.
Stella Maris Monastery
We then went on to the Stella Maris Monastery. The Stella Maris church and monastery, built under the orders of Brother Cassini of the Carmelite Order, was opened in 1836. Three years later Pope Gregory XVI bestowed the title of Minor Basilica on the sanctuary, and it is now known as “Stella Maris”, meaning Star of the Sea.
The main church inside the Stella Maris Monastery is said to contain the Cave of Elijah, a grotto associated with the prophet Elijah. The Cave of Elijah is a grotto on Mount Carmel, in Haifa, Israel, associated with the Biblical prophet Elijah. According to tradition, Elijah is believed to have prayed at a grotto before challenging the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18), and to have hidden in either the same or in another nearby grotto from the wrath of Jezebel (1 King 19:1–3). Two grottoes on Mount Carmel, in Haifa, have been historically referred to as “the Cave of Elijah”. Stella Maris Monastery contains one of the two grottos associated with Elijah.
But unfortunately, the main church was under work so we did not pay a visit to it or the cave of Elijah. But we did have mass together in the monastery. We sang the hymn, “In his time”, which brought me unexplained feelings of being loved by him. I am very grateful to God for their attentiveness to the ways he chooses to speak to me.
Akko
Next, The Old City of Akko. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of the remains of the Crusader town. These ruins are both above and below street level. It’s also because the city is one of a very small number of Ottoman-walled towns. It has citadels, mosques, khans, and baths, all of which have been preserved. In Akko, these sites were built on top of the ruins of the Crusader structures.
We then walked to the Church of St. John the Baptist which was one of the two Franciscan-run Roman Catholic churches located in the Old City of Akko in northern Israel.
As the day passes, I praise God for the love he has for me. Though I may not fully understand it, he helps me to in the many blessings he bestows on me this day and all my days.
RESEARCH (Not posted):
Caesarea:
Historical:
Originally an ancient Phoenician settlement known as Straton’s (Strato’s) Tower, it was rebuilt and enlarged in 22–10 BCE by Herod the Great, king of Judaea under the Romans, and renamed for his patron, the emperor Caesar Augustus.
The city became the capital of the Roman province of Judaea in 6 CE. Subsequently, it was an important center of early Christianity; in the New Testament, it is mentioned in Acts in connection with Peter, Philip the Apostle, and, especially, Paul, who was imprisoned there before being sent to Rome for trial.
Excavations were undertaken since 1950 have uncovered a Roman temple, amphitheater, hippodrome (which seated 20,000), the aqueduct, and other ruins of Roman and later times. Of particular interest is a Roman inscription, found in 1961, which mentions Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator of Judaea at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. This is the first mention of Pilate ever found that can be accurately dated within his lifetime.
Biblical:
Philip the Evangelist lived in Caesarea.
Acts 21:8: On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven and stayed with him.
Cornelius, the first Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit, lived here.
Acts 10:1–8: At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Caesarea was the place where the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles.
Acts 10:44–48: While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Muhraka:
Historical:
The Muhraka Monastery is a Carmelite monastery that sits on top of the highest peak of the Carmel mountains. Mount Carmel was the traditional home of the prophet Elijah who is the saint and patron of the Carmelite Order. Muhraka is actually Arabic and means “a place of burning,” in reference to the story relayed in the Bible whereby a fire came down from heaven and burnt the prophet Elijah’s offering when he battled the Ba’al prophets.
Biblical:
The Prophets of Baal Defeated
Acts 18:20-40
Akko:
The Old City of Akko is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of the remains of the Crusader town. These ruins are both above and below street level. It’s also because the city is one of a very small number of Ottoman-walled towns. It has citadels, mosques, khans, and baths, all of which have been preserved. In Akko, these sites were built on top of the ruins of the Crusader structures.
Franciscan Terra Sancta Church:
The Terra Sancta Church is the name given to one of the two Franciscan-run Roman Catholic churches located in the Old City of Acre in northern Israel, the other one being the Church of St. John the Baptist.
According to historical documents of Acre, since the thirteenth century, the Franciscans gave great importance to the city. They believed that the founder of the Order, St. Francis of Assisi, visited the city between 1219 and 1220. In 1217 the first Franciscan monastery, founded by Father Elia Da Cortona was built.
Stella Maris Monastery:
The current church and monastery, built under the orders of Brother Cassini of the Order, was opened in 1836. Three years later Pope Gregory XVI bestowed the title of Minor Basilica on the sanctuary, and it is now known as “Stella Maris”, meaning Star of the Sea. For much of the 20th century it was occupied by the military, first the British, and later the Israelis, but at the end of their lease it was handed back to the Order.
The monastery serves as a center of Carmelite spirituality throughout the world. The symbol of the Order is mounted right above the entrance door. During the erection of the church, friars were assaulted by their neighbors and had to defend their property and the church guests. As a result, the monastery’s ground floor is built out of thick walls with few small openings covered by bars.
The altar stands on an elevated platform situated above a small cave associated with Elijah. The cave can be reached from the nave by descending a few steps and holds a stone altar with a small statue of Prophet Elijah. The altar above the cave is dominated by a statue of the Virgin Mary carrying Jesus in her lap and holding the Scapular in her right hand, known as Our Lady of the Scapular. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of the Carmelites, and as such is known as “Our Lady of Mount Carmel“.
The main church inside the Stella Maris Monastery is said to contain the Cave of Elijah, a grotto associated with the Biblical prophet Elijah.
The Cave of Elijah is a grotto on Mount Carmel, in Haifa, Israel, associated with the Biblical prophet Elijah. According to tradition, Elijah is believed to have prayed at a grotto before challenging the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18), and to have hidden in either the same or in another nearby grotto from the wrath of Jezebel (1 King 19:1–3
Two grottoes on Mount Carmel, in Haifa, have been historically referred to as “the Cave of Elijah”. Stella Maris Monastery contains one of the two grottos associated with Elijah
During the First World War, the statue of Our Lady of the Scapular, holding Baby Jesus and the scapular, was removed from the church and placed in a safer place in Haifa. After the war, in 1919, it was brought back to its place in a small procession. Since then, every first Sunday after Easter, on the same date as in 1919, what has become the second largest Catholic procession of the Holy Land after the Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem, takes place between downtown Haifa and Stella Maris, up the western slope of the Carmel. Large crowds of Catholic Christians, including such of eastern rites, are led by the Latin Patriarch and other Church leaders in accompanying the statue on its way
