Emmaus on the Plain
See also: Emmaus on the Mountain, Emmaus of Tiberias.
Place of the properties of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
Inhabitants or Natives
John, the young paralytic healed at Beautiful Water, Michael the child who sought the wings of Jesus, their Families, Nicodemus the Sanhedrist, and Joseph of Arimathea have property in the surroundings.
Description
Village evangelized by the shepherds Matthias and John. Located in a rich agricultural plain. A group of white shining houses amidst the blonde color of ripe grain and green orchards.
Highlights
On the faith of Joseph of Arimathea, the harvest multiplies to feed the poor.
Name
Emmaus on the Plain, Nicopolis, Amwas, Imwas.
(Hot spring)
Where is it mentioned in the work?
EMV 404 EMV 405 EMV 407 EMV 488
Learn more about this place
Region which was the scene of victorious battles between Judas Maccabeus and Gorgias, general of Antiochus Epiphanes. To address the numerical weakness of his inexperienced troops, Judas implores the assistance of God[1].
22/32 km northwest of Jerusalem.
Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel Salton Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère:Jesus, coming from Bether, heads towards Joppa and the plain of Saron. As they approach the plain of Ayalon, Jesus declares to the Apostles: “We are going to Emmaus on the Plain”[2]. Maria Valtorta then adds: “They walk towards Emmaus which is already near, a group of white shining houses amid the blonde color of ripe grain and green orchards”[3].Emmaus-Nicopolis is located near Latrun, in the Ayalon plain, more than thirty kilometers from Jerusalem (178 stadia). This Greco-Roman city, capital of one of the ten Roman toparchies, was thus a relatively important city.
According to Eusebius of Caesarea: “Emmaus, from where Cleophas mentioned in the Gospel of Luke came. Today, it is Nicopolis, a famous city of Palestine”[4]. This opinion was accepted by the Bordeaux pilgrim and Saint Jerome. The site was thus favored by the Byzantine Church, from the 4th century, as the place of meeting of Jesus and the Disciples. This was also asserted, in 1878, by a local mystic, Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified (Mariam Baouardy), canonized in 2015. But for others, this seems contradictory with the distance of sixty stadia indicated in several manuscripts of Saint Luke: the return to Jerusalem would hardly have been feasible after sunset, and after such a long journey going there.
The region was the scene of victorious battles between Judas Maccabeus and Gorgias, general of Antiochus Epiphanes. This biblical episode[5] is mentioned in a speech that Jesus begins thus: “Judas Maccabeus, when he appeared on this plain...”[6].
Explore
• 31° 50’ 20’’ N / 34° 59’ 20’’ E
• +150m
Notes and references
Article partially written based on the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel Salton Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère.