Bethphage

In the Bible

From Bethphage on the Mount of Olives Jesus sent two disciples for a donkey and her colt; He rode toward Jerusalem, and the crowds spread cloaks and branches on the road.

Matt 21:1–9As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Tradition

By tradition, a stone in the chapel marks where Jesus mounted the donkey; Crusader paintings on it show the disciples with the donkey and the raising of Lazarus.

Here today

A small Franciscan chapel, given its present form in 1954, from which the Palm Sunday procession sets out over the Mount of Olives.

Through the eyes of old pilgrims

And from there, toward Jerusalem, a verst from Bethany, stands a pillar; at that place Martha met Jesus; there, too, Christ mounted the donkey, having raised Lazarus.Abbot Daniel, 1106–1108 · our translation

Official site

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).