* The Garden * The Rock * IV century the present site of
Gethsemane, Kidron valley has gradually filled up, roads have
been rerouted and widened, and many buildings have been erected.
Nevertheless, the visitor will not find it hard to locate the
spots where the ancient traditions have sited the Agony and
arrest of Jesus. Of the olive groves situated in what the
Gospels call a "property" or a "garden," there remain only some
plots of ground. One, commonly called "The Garden of Olives" is
about 1200 square metres in area and is situated to the right of
the path up the mountain, extending between this path, and
around the basilica of the Agony, to the Jericho road.
Originally, the property took in the site of the modern
basilica, since this is built on the ruins of the fourth century
church which St. Jerome and Etheria describe as standing on the
spot where Christ prayed. A venerable olive tree in the Garden
of Gethsemane a fence of iron- tracery with Byzantine motifs,
eight hoary olive trees attract the attenti