Catholic basilica Ektse Homo (Latin for "Behold the man") in the territory of the monastery of Sisters of Zion episode is devoted to the New Testament: Pontius Pilate brings Christ to the people beaten. Evangelist John writes about it this way: "Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! "(John 19: 4-5). Perhaps the procurator hoped that the Jews who wanted to free the Easter not Jesus, Barabbas, change their minds. However, the chief priests continued to demand that Jesus was crucified, Pilate surrendered.

Basilica stands on the Via Dolorosa. Arch spanned across the street, one end of which is a part of the temple, also called Homo Ektse. It has long been thought that here was the Pavement - sublime paved place on which the judgment seat. Modern archaeologists do not agree, but for pilgrims walking the Via Dolorosa through the Cross of Jesus, the exact coordinates are not important. Ektse Homo located at the second station of the Cross - where Christians recall laying on the cross of Jesus.

Login Via Dolorosa itself does not lead to the Basilica and to the glass wall through which you can see the interior of the temple. Inside the basilica would look harshly, if not bright gilding there, where appropriate Ektse Homo Arch. In order to still get to the church, need to go to the monastery with the side streets, which is named after the nuns - Sisters of Sion.

The monastery was built in 1857 by Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne. French Jew, fierce atheist, Ratisbonne was baptized and became a Jesuit priest, and after the appearance of the Virgin Mary to him. He built the monastic buildings, a church and an orphanage for girls, nuns and later bought some of the neighboring houses.

During excavations there were discovered the Roman stone slabs. For a time, they were regarded as Pavement, on which Jesus was tried, but we now know that it is a later pavement, dating back to II century as Ektse Homo Arch. In ancient plates made (probably by soldiers of the Emperor Hadrian) incisions - blanks for games. In the monastery are exhibited and other artifacts found during excavations.

Also, tourists interested in swimming pool Stration - an ancient reservoir for rainwater collection, built by Herod the Great in I century BC. e. Stration was discovered right under the monastery. The water there is now, but the pool is covered stone wall. Her nuns built when the Western Wall tunnels, which is part of the pool, opened to visitors. Now Stration can be seen from two sides - from the tunnels and in the monastery Sisters of Zion.

The monastery has a modest but cozy guest house. Stay in there, tourists can climb to the roof terrace with a cup of coffee and enjoy an unforgettable view of the old town.