On our last day, we walked the Stations of the Cross in the Old Town before breakfast and then loaded the bus for the airport in Tel Aviv. On the way we stopped at Emmaus for our final Eucharist together.
While the site of Emmaus (also known as Nicopolis) is questioned, we saw the one near Latrun, around 19 miles from Jerusalem. Christians from the 4th century on have considered this the site when Jesus walked with his disciples after his resurrections and they did not recognize him until he broke bread with them.
The site has two Basilicas and a cruciform baptistry that date to the 4th to 7th centuries. The town was wiped out by the plague in 639, but the Crusaders captured the city from the Arabs in 1099 on the way to Jerusalem and established a new church.
Archeological remains of the basilica, baptistry, and house of Cleopas have been found there. Below are pictures of some of the remains.
Having Eucharist on this ancient site was a meaningful and inspiring way to end our pilgrimage. Little would we know that less than a week later war would break out. That made the trip more significant. Pray for peace in the Land of the Holy One.
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