Striving Catholic Basilica (Church of All Nations) is dedicated to one of the dramatic episodes of the New Testament - Agony in the Garden.

Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that the night before Jesus' arrest in anticipation of the test grieved greatly troubled and distressed. His human nature did not want to torture and death, but also His divine will led to it. In this internal struggle Jesus was: coming earthly friends slept nearby, while he appealed to Heavenly Father with a request to take this cup of suffering by. "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44). Catholic tradition holds that this happened on the very spot where the basilica is agony - at the foot of Olives (Olives) mountain, close to the current garden of Gethsemane.

Second its name - All Nations - the church is because its construction has helped many countries. Architect Antonio Barluchchi, built a basilica in 1924, thanked them for their help and unusually beautiful. The roof of the church has twelve gray domes - on the inner surface of each depicts a coat of arms, to sacrifice for the construction. So marked Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, France, Spain, UK, Belgium, Canada, Germany and the United States. The mosaics in the apse donated by Ireland, Hungary and Poland, forged a wreath around the "cliff struggles" - Australia. Altar in the garden near the temple used by all Christian denominations.

Basilica - one of the most beautiful churches in Jerusalem. Its facade is decorated with classic luxury mosaic work of Giulio Bargellini. Huge panels in gold, red and blue colors, depicts Jesus praying, and the people for whom he - the only hope. The inscription in Latin - a quotation from the Epistle to the Hebrews the Apostle Paul: "Who in the days of his flesh, with loud cries and tears, offering up prayers and supplications able to save him from death; and was heard in that he feared. " Four groups of Corinthian columns topped by figures of evangelists.

The interior of the church resolved soon in the Byzantine style - powerful columns and an abundance of mosaics. The temple was built on the foundations of the chapel of the Crusaders and the XII century Byzantine basilica of IV century, destroyed by an earthquake in the VIII century. When building found fragments of ancient mosaics, which Barluchchi carefully preserved: a glass window in the floor allows you to enjoy it.

Purple stained glass windows and blue, with stars, domed ceilings reminiscent of the sad atmosphere of that night when Jesus struggled with doubts. Before the altar in the form of a bowl extending fragment of rock - according to legend, was Christ prayed on it. Metal wreath around the stone symbolizes the crown of thorns.

Of course, one can not with absolute certainty that there really is the very rock. But people come here to pray, meditate and be strengthened in the faith, remembering what struggles were over Jesus: "My Father! if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done "(Matthew 26:42).