About the project
Spiritual Garden, also known as the Etienne Boegner Ecumenical Garden, is located on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus first taught his disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer, where he spent the night before his crucifixion and from where he ascended to heaven. The garden was created in order to preserve a large open space and to provide a place for prayer and meditation.The garden includes native trees, shrubs and flowers, pathways, sitting areas and an area from which to view the city from the east, including the prominent Dome of the Rock.The project was inspired by Pastor Marc Boegner, former Head of the Reformed Church in France and a former President of the World Council of Churches, and was undertaken in cooperation with Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Anglican (Episcopal), Protestant and Evangelical Christian organizations worldwide. The garden is located on Vatican property.
