Sacred site

A sacred site is a place that is thought of as sacred (or holy) to a particular religion. Every one of the world's major religions has sacred sites. Some religions, such as Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity think of the sacred sites as being very important to their faith. In other religions such as Protestant Christianity, sacred sites are not so important.

The idea that a place is sacred often comes from something that has happened at the place, or a religious story about that place. Mount Sinai is a sacred site for Jews and Christians because it was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments of God.

The sacred site might be a natural site, or it might be a building of some sort. One of the most famous natural sites that is also a sacred site is Uluru (also called Ayre's Rock) in Central Australia. It is believed to have been sacred to the aboriginal people for about 40,000 years. Other famous natural sites are the sacred trees of India, Japan and South East Asia.

Very often, buildings have been made on natural sites that were already thought of as sacred. For example, a spring of water coming from the ground might be said to have healing powers. A special well-house might be built around the spring to protect it, and as a place where people might leave offerings (gifts to a god).

Other sites are thought of as sacred because a holy person or saint lived there, or died there, or their body is kept there. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the most sacred sites to Christianity because it is believed that Jesus' body was placed in a tomb there. The city of Mecca is sacred to all Muslim people as the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad.

Pilgrimage

Many people make a special visit to a sacred site. This is called a pilgrimage. A person who travels on pilgrimage is called a "pilgrim". Pilgrimage is very important in Islam, because every Muslim person is expected to make a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca once in their lifetime, if they can possibly do so.

Many Christians also make pilgrimages to sacred sites. Pilgrimage became very important in the Middle Ages when thousands of people travelled to many sacred sites, particularly to Jerusalem, to the famous Christian basilicas of Rome, to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Canterbury Cathedral in England. In modern times, sacred sites of Christian pilgrimage include Assisi in Italy, Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

In Buddhism, the sacred sites are four places in India where Buddha lived and preached. These are Kapilavastu, Bodh Gaya, Benares and Kusinagara.

Gallery

Jerusalem is the "Holy City" of Jews, Christians and Muslims. This photo shows the wall of the ancient Temple which is a sacred site to Jews.
St. Peter's Basilica stands on the site where Peter, a disciple of Jesus is believed to have been buried.
The Ganges River in India is sacred to Hinduism.
The Ka'aba in Mecca stands at the most sacred site to Muslims.
Rewalsarl Lake is a sacred Buddhist site.
Mount Sinai is a sacred site for Jews and Christians. This is St Catherine's Monastery.
The Medicine Wheel is a sacred site of the indigenous people of North America.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the most sacred sites in Christianity.
This sacred tree in Japan is 1500 years old.
A statue of the Virgin Mary stands at the sacred site of Lourdes in France.
A Holy Well in Sweden
Mount Kembla is a sacred site for the Aboriginal people of Australia

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