Monastery of the Cross

Christian Israel tours often travel to locations such as Jerusalem and if you travel to Israel you should make a point of stopping at the Monastery of the Cross in the center of Jerusalem in the Valley of the Cross. Tradition suggests that an ancient tree enshrined by the Monastery of the Cross was the one from which wood was taken for the cross made for Jesus. Adjacent to other interesting sites such as the Israel Museum and Knesset, the monastery is open to visitors on a daily basis who wish to see the tree, which is said to have been planted by Lot after he realized his sins. Tradition says that Abraham gave him branches from 3 trees and that after Lot planted them (in the spirit of Isaiah 60:13) they grew into one. The church has an ornate mosaic floor, attractive frescoes and paintings that show the story of the tree located behind the altar. The monastery was restored by the Georgians in the 11th century and it is said that Shota Rustaveli, their national poet, stayed their while he wrote "the Knight in the Panther's Skin". Those who stop here on their Israel tours can also visit the small museum within the monastery that has a great deal of art and ethnic costumes.