The Church of the Agony - also known as "The Church of All Nations" because
a large number of countries contributed to its cost, is situated in the Garden
of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. The present church was built
to a design of Antonio Barluzzi and construction commenced in 1922, taking about
two years to complete. The building includes elements of the much earlier 4-5th
century Byzantine church and is built round the same rock on which Jesus prayed
throughout the night immediately preceding his arrest. Over the lintel leading
into the church is the quotation "Sustinete hic et vigilate mecum" -
"Stay here and keep watch" (Mark 14 v.34 N.E.V), while the gable, above the
triple-arched façade is decorated with a magnificent mosaic depicting Jesus as
being the bonding element between the poor and ignorant and the Divine. Beneath
the mosaic, and running the width of the architrave is a quotation from Hebrews
5:vii"Preces supplicationesque cum clamore valido et lacrymis offerens
exauditus est pro sua reverentia" - "(Jesus) offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that heard him because of
his fear". At the very top of the gable the cross is supported on both sides by
two stags reminiscent of the 42nd Psalm: "As the hart panteth after the water
brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God". Over the door itself is the
quotation from Mark XIV: 32:(Vulg.): "Et veniunt in praedium cui nomen
Gethsemani et ait discipulis suis sedete hic donec orem." - "(And Jesus)
went with them and they came to a place called Gethsemane." Other quotations
from the gospels directly surrounding the events which took place that night,
are to be found accompanying the three beautiful mosaics in the apses; the
church has been deliberately designed with dark-toned stained-glass windows to
simulate the idea of the night-time, a motif heightened by the dark blue
"starry" night depicted on the ceiling. The ceiling itself is created out of
twelve small domes, each decorated with motifs and national emblems identifying
those States which donated either money or decorations for the building of the
church. Various other mosaics on the walls are donations from some of those same
countries. The rock on which Jesus prayed is surrounded by a low rail in the
form of a crown of thorns, while the altar support is in the form of a chalice
poignantly emphasizing Jesus' prayer: "... if it be possible let this cup pass
from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew 26 v.39 King
James).
