Garden of Gethsemane replica planned for Kentucky

A past chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party earlier this week unveiled plans to build a replica of the Garden of Gethsemane in the Bluegrass State. On Tuesday, Jerry Lundergan, along with members of his family, local politicians, and religious leaders held a groundbreaking for the project at St. Patrick Cemetery in Maysville, Ky. The town is about 60 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

What does this project entail? Lundergan told WORLD that the 6-acre, multimillion-dollar garden was designed to remind visitors of the Biblical Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before his arrest and crucifixion. The finished garden will include a walking path meant to replicate the Via Dolorosa, or “sorrowful way” in Latin. The term refers to the path in the Old City of Jerusalem believed to be the route along which Jesus carried His cross.

Along the path, Lundergan said visitors can stop to reflect at the 14 Stations of the Cross. Roman Catholics and some protestant churches typically use paintings or small sculptures to represent what they see as the 14 significant moments of Christ’s death. In contrast, plans for the Maysville garden call for 14 life-sized statues designed by Italian sculptor Reto Demetz, something Lundergan says will make the garden unique. The path will end at a seven-story, bronze cross, according to Lundergan.

How much will this project cost? Lundergan declined to disclose a precise amount but said it is costing millions of dollars. He said his family’s foundation will finance the entirety of the project. Admission to the garden will be free, but a donation box is planned at the end where visitors can contribute. Donations would be used for the upkeep of the garden, the maintenance of the cemetery, and to support the nearby St. Patrick Church and school, Lundergan said. Pointing to the success of the Ark Encounter replica of Noah’s Ark in Williamstown, Ky., Lundergan said there is demand for parks and attractions that commemorate Biblical events. General admission for an adult to the Ark Encounter typically runs over $60, according to the attraction’s website.

Is this specifically a Catholic attraction? While the cemetery and its associated church and school are Catholic, Lundergan insisted Christians of all backgrounds are welcome. “My idea was to build a garden … and do it in such a way that this garden would be such an attraction that people could come from all over the world and renew their faith,” Lundergan told WORLD. “It makes no difference what denomination you are, Christian, Methodist, baptist, Catholic, Protestant, whatever.”

Some protestants object to the use of imagery or even some of the stories traditionally included in Stations of the Cross.

Who is Jerry Lundergan? Lundergan, 78, is a Lexington-based businessman and former politician who served in the Kentucky House of Representatives in the 1980s. He went on to twice serve as the chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. In July 2020, he was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on charges related to illegal contributions made to his daughter Alison Lundergan Grimes’ 2014 U.S. Senate campaign challenging Sen. Mitch McConnell. In January, outgoing President Joe Biden issued Lundergan an unconditional pardon.

Dig deeper: Listen to Myrna Brown’s review of her visit to Kentucky’s Ark Encounter attraction on The World and Everything in It.