History of the place

The village of Bethany (Al-Azariya in Arabic) is located a few kilometers from Jerusalem, on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives. From here passed the Roman road that led from Jerusalem to Jericho. Since the first centuries of Christianity, the various stays of Jesus, guest of the friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary, and the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus are remembered here. Over the centuries the place has become an important pilgrimage center and until recently it has hosted hundreds of thousands of religious tourists every year. With the construction of the Separation Wall Bethany was divided by the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem, causing a significant decrease in the number of tourists visiting the place, who also arrive with short-term guided tours that do not bring benefits to the local community.