Challenged by Jerusalem: A Journey to the Holy Land

The story begins with a call from the Vatican, which sends a famous writer in 2022 on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The journey includes visits to Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, and finally Jerusalem—a city that challenges logic and understanding, awakening in the writer a new vision.

For the intellectual believer accustomed to analysis and doubt, this becomes a powerful experience. Confronting a mystical encounter changes his worldview, making the story of Jesus feel alive and relevant as a living drama. Jerusalem, where three great religions intersect, becomes for him a source of both pain and hope.

Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, an acclaimed writer and playwright and winner of numerous awards, whose works have been translated into many languages, shares his experience in “The Trial of Jerusalem.” This novel continues the author’s journey started in “Night of Fire,” returning him to spiritual roots and inviting readers into a journey through the Holy Land. For the first time, the book is presented in Russian with a preface by the author for Russian readers.