a mountain east of Jerusalem, mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, especially as the place of Jesus Christ's ascension to Heaven. Limestone ridge, east of Jerusalem. Frequently mentioned in the Bible, it is holy both in Judaism and in Christianity. Politically it is part of the municipality of Greater Jerusalem under Israeli administration. Its slopes have been the most sacred burial ground in Judaism for centuries. The peak generally regarded as the Mount of Olives is 2,652 ft (808 m) in elevation. Nearby is the site held by tradition to be the Garden of Gethsemane, which is associated with the betrayal and Crucifixion of Jesus