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Pilgrimage in the Holy Land

St John Phocas, tr. Stewart, 1889

Chapter 26

On the right-hand side of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in the direction of the Tower of David, there is a hill covered with vines, and on the lower part thereof a monastery of Spanish monks, within the circuit of which it is said that the wood for the glorious Cross was cut. Beyond this begins the mountain region, very properly so-called, since for a distance of many stadia the hills become steeper and steeper. About fourteen stadia from the Holy City may be seen the house of Zacharias the prophet, wherein after the Annunciation the Immaculate Virgin rose and walked with speed, and embraced Elizabeth, whose child leaped within her womb for joy, as though saluting its lady by its leaping, and the Virgin pronounced that admirable prophetic song. There is a castle at this place, and a church built over a grotto; in the innermost recesses of the grotto took place the birth of the Forerunner, and at a distance of about two bowshots, on a higher part of the mountain, is the stone which split asunder and received within itself the mother of the Baptist, with her child in her arms, when she was fleeing away during Herod’s massacre of the children.¹

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