“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2
All over the world, churches have been time and again struck by calamities. Fires that burned churches down, hailstorms and tornados that blew the roof off the churches, earthquakes that damaged the foundation and shootings and killings that took many lives. It is heart breaking to see churches face such tragedies. Especially now when a global pandemic is ravaging cities, it is having a telling effect on churches. People are scared to go to churches because they are afraid that they may exposed to the virus from infected people. It has forced the churches to close for weeks and even months as the cases increase and even evolve into variants.
All these obstacles have challenged us to humble ourselves and surrender to God whatever situation we face. Seeking God’s voice in these times has helped the churches grow into trusting God more. Whatever storms the church faces, it will pass. God’s mercy is still upon the whole church because in the end, the church is not just the building alone, it is each and every Christian. Church buildings may face tragedy but the real church is the person who builds his or her life in the foundation of faith in God. There may have been trials and situations that have challenged the churches greatly, but the Lord is our Help and Fortress. You just need to learn to see things from a different perspective and see that God has a purpose in every church and the trials faced by it.
A shift in our paradigm or our thinking is a must when we know how impossible our situation is and how difficult it is to change it. Rather than murmuring or complaining about what your situation is, learn to seek God and pray to strengthen your mind and your heart to be at peace. It may not be easy to face each situation of every church but remember that God gives the strength to overcome and all you need to do is to trust that in the end, it will all glorify God. Always remember that there is a purpose behind everything.
As Psalm 32:7-8 says, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” God will protect each and every one of us from trouble and even our churches where we gather. God’s unfailing love will wrap every church to do the purpose He has intended for each church to do. Not even this COVID-19 virus can stop God from working in the midst of His people.
The Salvation Garden opens the gates for you and Christians around the world, offering you direct access to the Holy Churches of Jerusalem. The pandemic has restricted a lot of people from coming to the Holy Land to pray and see God’s Promised Land. If you cannot visit the Holy Land for any reason, we are here for you. If you want to pray for your church, your family, or your personal prayers, you can submit your prayer online, and our team members will physically place it in the chosen worship site in the Holy Land as we offer digital documentation for each prayer. Send your prayers now! We would love to pray for you.
It is tough to see what the world is experiencing right now especially when you can see people all around suffering from the Covid-19 virus. A lot of people across the world have been afflicted by this virus despite the practice of the health protocols. You can’t really tell when or who will be infected by the virus and it may even affect not just your physical health but also your mental stability. In these trying times, it is inevitable to feel anxious as you go through the trials in life and the world faces an endless stream of COVID-19 variants that are constantly evolving. Truly there is no assurance when this will end or will it ever end. The only thing we can do is to trust God in each situation.
Maybe you have been struggling with despair and depression as another period of isolation may be coming up in the next few weeks. It is a depressing scenario and the only hope we have now is God and His limitless power and love. As Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This peace can never be found on men or on things that are temporal but it can be found in the One who gave us security in eternity, God our Father.
As social media keeps sending an unending stream of content towards you from all directions, a large section of it being negative and depressing news about the scourge of the virus, it is very important to keep your mind at ease about what is happening in your surroundings. It is important to keep your peace in times like these. The only way to ensure that is by developing your relationship with God and His Word that will keep you calm through every storm you face. Keep the peace that comes from God because that will help you handle challenging situations. If you’re afraid or anxious, pray for peace. God’s generosity in all things is given to those who ask. You only need to ask. If you need healing, He gives healing to everyone who is sick. As the verse said, “Ask and you shall receive”. Peace and healing be upon you!
If you’re struggling and you need to pray for someone or something, we, at the Salvation Garden, bring you encouragement to remind you that you are not alone in this battle. As we pray, lift up our prayers and surrender to God, we become united as children of God. You may send your prayer request through us, and we’ll bring it to the Holy Churches. Visit https://www.thesalvationgarden.org/ to read more and Send Your Prayer Request through us. We would love to bring your prayers to the churches and pray for you.
Prayer is a means to be attentive to God and establishes a two-way spiritual relationship with Him. We not only talk to God while praying but also listen to his advice. You can compare it to a conversation a child has with their dad. For instance, is it commonplace for a child to request their dad for the things they wish or ask for guidance or advice?
Remember, we do not pray on our own but along with Christians residing all over the world. Also, it helps us be in touch with our Lord and others. When we offer up prayer requests together, it becomes a more powerful tool for us, Christians living in different parts of the world unite in the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Christ. We offer all types of situations to God and He uses these prayers to bless the world with justice and love. It becomes a ministry that as those fervent prayers offered becomes a blessing to someone out there.
How Do We Begin?
Prayer does not have to be a hidden secret. He is always there to protect and guide us and prepared to listen. God hears prayers that are offered by His children.
There are several ways to pray:
Do an activity that is prayerful such as visiting a church or lighting a candle.
Morning prayer to prepare yourself for the day you will encounter.
Share our feelings with God.
Be quiet with our Lord irrespective of whether you are with other people or on your own.
Prayer is an expression of gratitude, or a solemn request addressed to God. It is a way to Worship. People pray as they wish to communicate with God to ask for something they desire or to offer thanks. Christians expect to get answers to their prayers based on their requirements or the crucial circumstances they face.
Mostly, people expect to receive the answers to their prayers instantly. That is because they feel they need those things at that very moment. At times, a believer has prayers to be offered immediately to our Lord. Immediate Prayer that urgently needs an answer.
The reason for this is they require an urgent response. It may be the top-most priority for them at that time. However, they should remember that it is not how prayer works.
God Hears Every Prayer
Our Lord listens to the prayers of every believer, and all are equally important to Him. However, this does not mean He will come up with an immediate response.
His timetable is not the same as ours. Some people may feel that He is taking too much time to answer their prayers. The reality, however, is our Lord responds beautifully to all requests but in His proper time. Just like when He gave Jesus as the sacrificial lamb for our sins, it was the right time to be saved from the darkness.
God always ensures that the heart of His believers is prepared to receive the responses that He prepares. Remember, when our Lord comes up with answers to the prayers of His believers, it can bring blessing to them and other people around them.
Types of Prayer Requests
There are people who send their prayer requests through us and we’ve seen how it has made an impact in their lives. These are some of the prayer requests that they submit.
Healing
Provision
Guidance
Gratitude
Urgent Prayer Request
These are some of them but prayers are not limited to just these but for you to find out more about the urgent prayer request or the immediate request, here are some of the things you might want to know about.
What is an Urgent Prayer Request?
Urgent Prayer Request is a prayer a believer creates when they feel something is crucial and should be prayed for immediately. It may be a prayer that is an emergency or a priority. It is a need to urgently get an answered prayer request.
Very often, urgent prayer requests are a prayer for others or a personal prayer for someone. Such a prayer request has no limit on what or for whom to pray. It just signifies that every person has different requirements at different times.
The Bible promises that faithful and fervent prayer works. We have seen that happening countless times to us, and the people around us. Our Lord is faithful and listens and responds to fervent prayers offered when we have a need.
Is your situation an impossible one? Do you require an absolute miracle? Even if you have an urgent requirement in life, we have complete faith in supernatural miracles. Our Lord can achieve the impossible if we trust Him completely. God’s timetable is different from how we perceive it.
How to pray an urgent prayer?
There is no right or wrong way in how to pray this urgent prayer. But here are some of the ways you can use as a guide to help you:
Set your Heart right
Know what you need to pray for
Have faith knowing God can work in your situation
How do you ask for a prayer request?
The Salvation Garden offers you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason – family problems, financial issues, personal struggles, or anything you desire or need. Send your Urgent Prayer Requests here.
The Ministry of The Salvation Garden
The Lord has blessed us at The Salvation Garden with an opportunity to approach and assist all such people who need to offer their prayers to the Almighty. It is a ministry that God has given us to be able to be a blessing to everyone in the world as we offer prayer requests in the Holy Churches. We believe that our Lord listens to us. God hears prayers. When we connect to Him in full faith and boldly, our prayers work. Every time you send your urgent prayer requests, we prioritize them by taking them to the Holy Churches.
We, at The Salvation Garden, are your most dependable organization to carry your prayers to Holy Churches. Your prayers are valuable for us as they not only include your requirements but also the most important goals and desires in your life. When you fill-up the prayer forms, we inspire you to offer your prayer first. It will help you to be fully convinced in His power while writing your urgent prayer requests.
Once you have filled out your urgent prayer requests online, the next step is to choose the Church where you want us to take your prayers. Alternatively, we will also bring your prayer request to all five Holy Churches if you want us to do so.
Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to all these Churches and then offer them to our Lord. While you send these prayer requests, do not forget to pray daily. Mark 11:24 mentions, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
We believe that you will get the right response to all your urgent prayer requests. You should have complete faith that God will send you the right answers while sending these prayer requests. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.
Many people have told us that they felt a difference in their life after sending their urgent prayer requests through us at The Salvation Garden. We understand that it may not always be easy for you to share your intimate and personal prayers. However, know that we are a safe space and join you in your prayers.
We are ecstatic every time we get the good news from all those people who sent their urgent prayer requests through us. These people tell us that our Lord has answered their prayers. We value your testimonies as we bring your sincere prayers to the Holy Churches.
Prayer has incredible power as it transforms everything. Every time we bring our prayers to the Holy Land, we learn how the Almighty is changing your life through the prayer requests. We realize that God has us here for a beautiful purpose when we receive your testimonies. And this specific purpose is to bring all your prayer requests to the Holy Churches of Jerusalem.
Thus, we, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason – family problems, financial issues, personal struggles, or anything you desire or need. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now
Send a prayer for the critically ill. Here are 5 common holy land prayer requests to cure serious ailments. Feel free to be inspired and ask for relief from suffering from within the land of Jesus’s death and resurrection! Submit your prayer request here.
Sending a prayer request for someone struggling with a critical illness is a powerful way of alleviating suffering for both the victim and yourself. Living with the knowledge that you could lose someone dear to you can be very painful and the burden may sometimes feel too heavy to carry alone. In such times, sharing your burden with God can have profound effects on mood and provide relief from anxiety.
If you’ve felt distanced from God, you can ask for a prayer to be offered for you by people of integrity and faith, in the lands where Jesus Christ was born, crucified, and resurrected for inspiration.
In the words of James 5:13-16, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Sometimes you may feel at a loss for words or too overcome by emotion to create a prayer on your own. Here are 5 common prayer requests in the holy land for the critically ill whose healing may need a miracle to be realized.
1. Prayer for those Suffering from Cancer
Heavenly Father, I offer you, in full faith, and in pleading ask that you grant comfort to Miranda’s body when she is in pain. Put your loving hand on all those suffering from cancer and help our healers remove all tumorous cells from their bodies. May they never be afraid and may they always feel your presence, and be blessed. Amen!
2. Prayer for those Suffering from Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, and Stroke
Lord, I come to you in complete surrender and in all humility. I offer trust in your love and mercy, believing that whatever I ask from you in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, you will grant me if it is fair and in accordance with your divine will.
I lift up to you, Mario, who is need of healing from heart disease. Hear my prayers through your temple in the most holy lands. Let the grace of your divine healing flow through all parts of his body, touching his heart, veins, and arteries, and all places afflicted with sickness. Bring healing to his nerves and organs surrounding the heart. Console him and ease his pain. Bring relief from suffering and restore his health in body, mind, and spirit. Amen!
3. Prayer for those Undergoing Surgery
Loving Father, I thank you for defending me and helping me overcome obstacles in life. I thank you for giving me the doctors and the nurses that I needed for my surgery. Please guide their hands and minds so that they are able to work with care and skill. By the promise of the resurrection of your son and our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, I look forward to you fighting for me. May the prayers of these faithful, who intercede for me, be heard. Please help me get better and back to serving your will again. Amen!
4. Prayer for those Suffering from Dementia
Fill with your grace and love, O Lord, the cups of all those suffering from dementia and diseases of the brain. It is frustrating for them to not be able to find a word and it is fearful to lose one’s memories. Bless them all with patience. Give strength and understanding to the families of these, your children. May they be blessed with days of hope and accomplishment. In the name of Christ, our savior and Lord, we pray for your blessings. Amen!
5. Prayer for those Suffering from Paralysis
O heavenly father, through these faithful gathered in the most holy of your churches and witness to crucifixion and resurrection of your only son and our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you may ease the suffering of Ludwig. It is hard not to stay bitter in his paralysis. Let him not think desperate thoughts. Help him to overcome self-pity and become aware that he is not alone in his suffering. Bless those who care for and support him that they may seek patience and serve with love and respect. Through the suffering and the eternal sacrifice of Christ, may we feel loved and blessed every day. Amen!
The Salvation Garden virtually opens the gates for you, and for Christians around the world, giving you direct access to Jerusalem’s holy sites. Now you can send your prayer and have it physically placed in your chosen site of worship in the Holy Land. Write you prayer request here.
Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent are quickly approaching. The day is commonly commemorated by Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans and many other Christian communities around the world.
It is most recognized by the ashes ceremonially put on the foreheads of the faithful. This goes back to ancient times, when ashes were a symbol used to express grief.
“By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19
Local Christians pray on Ash Wednesday in the Holy Land.
In Jerusalem, Ash Wednesday is normally marked with pilgrims and local Christians coming together. Around the empty tomb of Christ in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, you can typically find all nationalities celebrating the beginning of Lent.
This year in 2021, Ash Wednesday and all the Holy days leading up to Easter will look different in the Holy Land.
Only the local faithful will be here, walking along the Old City’s cobblestone streets. But just because pilgrimages are not visiting, does not mean that you can not make a Holy Land prayer request.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread’. Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.” Matthew 4:1-4
The ashes are from palm fronds used on last year’s Palm Sunday.
We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.
Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.
At some point in the past, you might have shared images or wallpapers to mark and spread the importance of Ash Wednesday. It is one of the most significant and popular holy days in the liturgical calendar. But if you’ve ever wondered about the origins, historical significance, and other trivia around this special day of fasting, prayer, and abstinence, read on to know more about how it all began.
Origins of Lent
Ash Wednesday is observed to mark the onset of the season of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and self-restraint leading up to Easter Sunday. The day is also known as the “Day of Ashes” because the devout have their foreheads marked with ash drawn in the form of the Cross. The name Day of Ashes has been derived from “Dies Cinerum” found in the Roman Missal; although the exact roots of the day cannot be found, it can be traced back to the earliest existing copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary. It is widely believed that its observance was followed by the Roman Catholics starting in the 6th century; marking the forehead with ashes on Ash Wednesday is likely to have originated during the papacy of Gregory the Great. During the Council of Nicea, Catholics started the tradition of observing Lent in about 325 CE. Although Ash Wednesday is probably most closely associated with Catholics, its significance is recognized by many Christian denominations and sects, including some Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists, Anglicans, Lutherans, and the Western Orthodox Churches.
The Evolution of Lenten Lore
According to the Old Testament, ashes were used both as a sign of mortality and humility. In other words, it is seen as a sign of sorrow as well as a symbol of repentance for sins. The Old Testament’s biblical custom also supports the Christian connotation for ashes in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. In the 10th century, members and followers of the Anglo-Saxon church received ashes on their forehead as a sign of sorrow for their sins and a reminder of mortality. In 1901, the custom was accepted universally throughout the Western church at the Synod of Benevento.
Initially, the ashes were used to signify penance as a matter of one’s private devotion. Subsequently, it gained prominence as a part of the official ritual for repentance in public. The ashes became a motive for fellow Christians to embrace those who had sinned, look at them with sympathy, and pray for their return to the fold. This ritual evolved with the passage of time and the ashes emerged into its present custom of marking the start of the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday. It is also associated with the adoption of the way of “Righteousness” as explained in the Book of Revelation.
Duration of Lent — Then & Now
The roots of the word Lent are embedded in the Middle English word “Lente”; it denotes “springtime”. The season of Lent is observed for a duration of 40 weekdays beginning from Ash Wednesday. It ends on Good Thursday and is observed as a period of fasting and repentance by the Roman Catholics, Eastern churches, and some Protestant churches as well. Sundays are not excluded from the 40-day count of the season. Hence, technically, the season of Lent lasts for 46 days. Initially, the duration of Lent was only for 36 days; subsequently, it was extended to the present duration of 40 days.
Why 40 Days?
An interesting question may come to mind as to why the duration for observing the season of Lent lasts for 40 days. The reason behind it is that the number 40 holds significance for Christians. Christ spent that many days and nights in the desert, during which he was tempted several times to sin against God. Noah witnessed 40 days of rain until the highest mountain was covered in water. The time between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension was 40 days.
Fasting During Lent
Other than staying away from feasting and merriment, fasting is one of the fundamental principles of Lent. According to the Catholic tradition, believers and followers should not consume meat during Lent. However, nowadays, this rule has been simplified and prohibits followers from eating meat only on Fridays. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 should fast every Wednesday after Ash Wednesday, although one can eat a single regular-sized meal along with two small meals. Elderly people, small children and those who are sick or suffering from an ailment are exempt from keeping a fast.
How Do You Calculate the Date?
The date on which Easter is celebrated each year depends on the full moon of Passover or Paschal. It has been observed that Easter occurs on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. One can use mathematical formulas to calculate when Easter will fall on any given year. Once the date for Easter is known, one can easily calculate the date when Lent begins. One simply needs to count 46 days (including Sundays) or 40 days (excluding Sundays) from Easter to determine the date of Ash Wednesday.
We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.
Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.
You’ve possibly attended mass on Ash Wednesday or seen people with ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. You even abstain from merry-making and practice self-denial of activities you enjoy during the Lenten season. But have you ever wondered about the various aspects associated with one of the most significant dates of the liturgical calendar? If you wish to know more and learn about the interesting yet little-known facts about Ash Wednesday, read on to discover interesting nuggets about this widely observed day of prayer and fasting.
What Do the Ashes Signify and How Are They Obtained?
Although Ash Wednesday is not considered a Holy Day of Obligation, devout Catholics observe the day as a sign of an expression of their faith in Christ. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning or first day of the 40 days of the Lenten season, a six-week period dedicated to fasting, praying and giving donations in preparation for Easter. Believers wear the ashes on their foreheads drawn in the form of a cross, as a sign of humility. The ashes remind followers of the sins of humanity and the reason Christ died on the cross. Ashes are distributed to remind believers of their mortality and ask them to repent and believe in the Lord. During the days of the early Church, Ash Wednesday was marked as the day on which people who had sinned and also those who wished to be readmitted to the folds of the Church would start their atonement.
Traditionally, the ashes are derived from burning palm leaves that were distributed during the previous Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. Palm Sunday is observed to celebrate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, where believers in Christ the Messiah waved branches of palm trees to commemorate his arrival. Typically, the ashes are mixed with olive oil or Holy Water. The Lenten service and ashes lay emphasis on and uphold the themes of mortality, sin, and God’s ultimate sacrifice of His own Son for the sins of the world.
According to the United Methodist Book of Worship, items burned to obtain the ashes include small cards or pieces of paper with sins or hurtful or unjust characteristics written on them. The cards are taken to the altar and burned along with the palm branches from the year before.
What Can You Not Eat?
According to the Catholic tradition, those who observe Ash Wednesday should abstain from consuming meat during the Lent season. Nowadays, this rule has been relaxed and people stay away from eating meat only on Fridays. People also give up on various pleasurable activities like watching television, and stay away from several items of food and drinking alcohol. Interestingly, a study conducted in 2014 revealed that 72% of people knew about the significance of Lent, and around 88% of those observing Lent had given up some item of food for the 40 days marking the Lenten season. Chocolate emerged as the number one item that people had willingly given up during this period.
The Official Color of Lent
The color violet represents mourning for Christ dying on the Cross and, at the same time, it is also associated with celebrating his Resurrection. Thus, violet is associated with both Christ’s pain and suffering on the Cross, as well as royalty. It is the official or symbolic color of Lent. Violet-colored fabric is used to veil or cover statues, altars, and myriad religious paraphernalia.
When Does the Season of Lent Come to an End?
The season of Lent does not end on Easter; it actually ends on Good Thursday, the day Christ had The Last Supper. Good Friday marks the day Christ died on the Cross, while Easter Sunday commemorates his Rising from the grave – The Resurrection.
Exclusion of Sundays
In the Christian calendar, the duration of the season of Lent is 40 days. The count does not include Sundays. Ash Wednesday falls on a different date every year as it depends on the date on which Easter Sunday is celebrated that year.
What is Laetare Sunday?
Laetare Sunday is observed by some churches as a special date. It falls in the middle of the liturgical season, on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The term Laetare derives its name from “Rejoice, O Jerusalem” or “Laetare Jerusalem”. It is a lighter form of worship that has a cheerful and festive tone as compared to the somber mood associated with other Sundays that fall during the Lenten season. It can also be seen as a preparation for Easter Sunday.
Why do Churches Refrain from Singing Alleluia during Lent?
During the season of Lent, it is customary for churches observing Lent to refrain from singing hymns featuring the Hebrew phrase “Alleluia” or “Praise the Lord”. According to an Evangelical Lutheran Church in the USA, the avoidance of the word “Alleluia” in songs or speeches dates back to the fifth century; the word is avoided during the 40 days of Lent as the season is associated with penance.
We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.
Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.
HISTORY OF CREMATION AND TODAY’S CATHOLICS TRENDING
New Catholic regulations on cremation
Even though the Catholic Church is known for being in favor of earth burial, it has recently declared a new stance in regard to cremation. In 2016, The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that the Church is not against cremation if certain regulations are followed. The document was approved by Pope Francis. For example, there are some prohibitions – it is not allowed to keep the ashes of a loved one at home or turn them into jewelry. Additionally, one should not scatter the ashes, but bury them in one place instead. It is encouraged to bury the remains of a loved one in sacred places or cemeteries as this would be in accordance with the Christian tradition. As Christians believe in the resurrection, burial is an important aspect of the religion. A single place of burial (contrary to scattering the ashes) allows people to visit their deceased family members and friends and pray for them.
A little bit of history of cremation– In the ancient world: It was discovered that cremation dates back to ancient times, more accurately, 3000 B.C. The ritual was practiced mainly in the territory of the Near East and Europe.
“…But when the flame of Hephaestus had made an end of thee, in the morning we gathered thy white bones, Achilles, and laid them in unmixed wine and unguents. Thy mother had given a two-handled, golden urn, and [75] said that it was the gift of Dionysus, and the handiwork of famed Hephaestus.” (Homer Od. 24.70-24.80)
The popularity of cremation was evident in Ancient Greece as it was the main way of burial. In 800 B.C. it was extremely popular as cremating bodies prevented a lot of diseases from spreading. Likewise, ancient Romans had similar practices.
– In the turn of the millennium: Even though cremation was a convenient way of burying, by 400 A.D. burying people in earth took over. From then, it was the usual way of burial, and cremation was almost forgotten.
– In the modern ERA: However, about 150 years ago, an Italian professor Brunetti invented a cremation chamber, in which the process could be done in a convenient manner, and the popularity of cremation started to rise. Since then, more and more cremation chambers were built in the USA, starting from the one in Pennsylvania established in 1876. The Cremation Association of North America was finally established in 1975. Today, about half of deaths in the USA result in cremation, with 48.6% in 2015.
We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.
Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.
Jesus’ resurrection took place in Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed by Christians to be the site which contains both the site of Christ’s crucifixion at Calvary and the tomb in which he was buried and resurrected. It is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Will God’s calling will be heard from anywhere?
For most Christians, there will be no set location for the resurrection and merely being buried in the consecrated ground will mark one out for ascension. Upon the Second Coming, the Bible states
“For the hour is coming in which all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:25)
This implies the resurrection will take place across the world. However, Jerusalem continues to be a strong place of pilgrimage for those of the Christian faith to this day. While many are content to visit Jerusalem, others may desire to be buried here in the Christian quarter in the belief that they are closer to the resting place of Christ.
We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.
Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.
