In Jewish tradition, the Mount of Olives is closely associated with the concept of resurrection. The Biblical prophet Zecharia foretold that when the Messiah arrives in Jerusalem, the first dead to be resurrected will be those who are buried on the Mount of Olives. This is why many Jews are buried on the mountain, with some of the graves dating back to the First Temple period. The cemetery appears to be in disrepair now because many graves were defaced during the nineteen-year Jordanian occupation of Jerusalem that began in 1948.

The mountain is mentioned at several points in the Bible, most notably when King David fled to the Mount of Olives for refuge during the rebellion of his son Absalom.

In Christian tradition, the Mount of Olives is of central importance. At its foot is the Garden of Gethsemane,  where Jesus and his disciples prayed after the Last Supper, the night before the crucifixion. The garden is also the site of the infamous betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. A Christian pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years, Gethsemane is exquisitely preserved, shaded with olive trees that are centuries old.  (Gethsemane comes from the Aramaic Gat Shamanim, which means “oil press.”)

Jesus is also said to have frequented the road from Jerusalem to Bethany that runs along the Mount of Olives, to visit his friend Lazarus.

Steps from the historic garden is the Church of all Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony, where the Rock of Agony is situated. The Mount of Olives is also the site of the golden-domed Church of Maria Magdalene and the grave of the Virgin Mary, an ancient site that the Orthodox Christians believe to be where Jesus’ mother was buried.

Each of these sites has its own story, in particular the Church of All Nations, which has a complex backstory and powerful emotional significance for many Christians.