Mount Carmel
The high place near Sicaminon.
Description
Rocky ridge culminating at 530 m starting from the bay of Sicaminon (Haifa) and extending 25 km to the southwest. Pierced with caves and adorned at its heights with groves, lush woods, water springs, and rock tables like natural altars, Mount Carmel has always been dotted with high places, including the worship of Baal. This explains the divine contest between Elijah and the priests of Baal.
Notable facts
It is on this high place that Jesus, taking with him his cousin James (the Lesser), entrusts him with his destiny as bishop of Israel (Jerusalem) and reveals to him the destiny of his nascent Church[1].
Its name
Carmel means "garden," "fertile land," or "Plantation." Other names: Har Karmel, Jebel Kurmul.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
EMV 257 EMV 258
Learn more about this place
It is there that Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal[2]. Baal was still worshiped on Carmel under the name "Zeus Heliopolitanus Carmel" until 200 BC.
Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel Salton Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère:The first time she "discovers" Carmel, Maria Valtorta writes: "It is a very green range where one discovers all the most beautiful shades of green"[3]. The great scholar S. Munk confirms it: "Carmel, as well as its surroundings, are covered with trees and greenery: on the summit, you see pines and oaks, lower down olive trees and laurels..."[4]. Maria Valtorta admires the panorama (Judea): "Where it ends, it is the sea that sparkles, open, limitless (…) It bathes the shores that, from the extremity of the promontory formed by the Carmel foothills, rise towards Ptolemais and other cities, finally fading into a slight mist towards Syro-Phœnicia"[3]. It is on the slopes of Mount Carmel that Jesus announces to his cousin James the difficult task that will fall to him: "to be the leader of the Church of Israel"[5].Mount Carmel and Sicaminon in 1890
A limestone hill range stretching about 50 km from the bay of Akko to the plain of Megiddo. It is there that Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Acherah (1 Kgs 18:20), as Jesus recalls to James: "With the false prophets gathered on Mount Carmel, Elijah approached and said to the people: How long will you hesitate between two sides?"[6].
Explore
• 32° 43’ 12’’ N / 35° 03’ 00’’ E
• +546m.