Cenacle

The Upper Room, or the Cenacle, in Jerusalem is the traditional location of where the disciples of Jesus stayed immediately before and after his death, during events including the Last Supper and the birth of the Church on Pentecost. While it is not the most visually striking location in Jerusalem, it is still beautiful both architecturally and in meaning to people around the world. Small stained-glass windows let in soft light, and the columns and arches make the room feel small without making it feel crowded. As the traditional location of many meaningful events in early Christianity, many people across many denominations and nations visit it as a significant location. Several years ago, I went to Israel with a small group. We had a very short spontaneous service in this room, followed by an old hymn. Several other groups joined us, singing in multiple different languages. Multiple different nationalities sang the same song in their own language, celebrating together. To me, this small, relatively inconspicuous room represents the most moving experience I had on that trip.

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