Gethsemane is a beloved space for our students who can wander and ponder here in their spare time and consider the atonement of the Savior.

The word Gethsemane means “oil press,”referring to huge stones which crushed olives toextract oil. So too, in this place Christ was crushed by weight of the sins of the world and sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44).

The courtyard in this area contains ancient olive trees, but the existing trees probably do not date to the time of Jesus. A beautiful church is on the property. It was built in 1920 and is called “The Church of All Nations” or “Basilica of the Agony”. This church does a magnificent job of artistically setting the scene and mood for when Christ spent time that important evening nearby.