The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the most sacred site in the world for millions of Christians. This if the site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The church was built during the 4th century by the Emperor Constantine, who accepted Christianity and made it the official religion of the Roman Empire. His mother, Saint Helena, toured the Holy Land and identified the sites in which the events mentioned in the New Testament took place. Helena identified this place as the Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. She also identified the burial plot of Joseph of Arimathea, who facilitated Jesus’ burial after he was taken down from the cross. Lying within the boundaries of the church are the last stations in Jesus’ Way of Grief- from the 9th to the 14th station.
Many changes took place in the church over the years, and it was formed into its current shape during the crusader era. During its early days in the Byzantine era, it was larger and known as “The Resurrection Church”, commemorating Jesus’ rise from the dead.
During the 13th century, the responsibility for opening the church and keeping the church’s keys was given to two Muslim families, and they are still, to this day, responsible for the church’s keys and its opening at dawn and closure at sunset. Most of the compound is held by the Catholic Church, the Armenian Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, with limited rights to the Syrian and Coptic Churches.
During the 19th century a status-quo agreement was signed between the various communities, defining the rights of prayer and ownership for the different communities involved in the church.
The church façade was designed during the crusader area. In the past, on top of the entrance arches, there were lintels decorated with crusader embossments. They are currently in the custodianship of the Rockefeller Museum. The bell tower on the left side was also built during the crusader era. For many of the tourists visiting this place, this is the highlight of their visit to the Holy Land.
Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, by Noam Chen
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 6529 traveler reviews
A fascinating place. I can only imagine how this site looked almost 2,000 years go, before the churches and buildings were constructed to commemorate the greatest event in history, the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. A person so great, that even the world's calendar was restarted following the birth...
MoreA fascinating place. I can only imagine how this site looked almost 2,000 years go, before the churches and buildings were constructed to commemorate the greatest event in history, the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. A person so great, that even the world's calendar was restarted following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. While the busy inside atmosphere of the church is mainly serine and respectful, the immediate surroundings outside the church are quite the opposite with noisy loudspeakers nearby (promoting Islam) as there is a large mosque located right next door to the church. The area outside the church around and along the Via Dolorosa, is a melting pot of Christians, Muslims, Jews (and tourists) who have, by necessity, learned to coexist together. Tip: The queue to enter the tomb section can be a wait of up to 1 or 2 hours, so on our tour group visit day, we didn't even try to line up. We made a second, personal visit on the next day and we only waited in queue for some 10 minutes. Why?..... because it was lunch time! So, I'd say line up at lunch & dinner time to avoid the main tour group crowds!
LessThis massive church, originally built in the fourth century, covers the area which is, for Christians, the historical center of the faith. It contains both the hill of Golgotha, on which Jesus was crucified, and the tomb of Christ. The original stone is mostly covered now by other structures, but is visible in some...
MoreThis massive church, originally built in the fourth century, covers the area which is, for Christians, the historical center of the faith. It contains both the hill of Golgotha, on which Jesus was crucified, and the tomb of Christ. The original stone is mostly covered now by other structures, but is visible in some places. Called the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Tomb) by western Christians, it is called the Church of the Resurrection by the Orthodox. As the crucifixion and resurrection are the central beliefs of Christians, this place is the holiest shrine in Christendom. It contains many chapels and crypts as well as the Greek Orthodox main church located in front of the tomb, and it can be a confusing place, so a knowledgeable guide is very helpful. It is usually very crowded with pilgrims and tourist groups, and there are lines to enter the tomb and the place of the cross on Golgotha. It can be noisy and confusing, but the pilgrim should be able to block all of that out as he or she venerates the holy places and remembers what God has done for us in this place. Be sure to enter with respect, and properly (modestly) clothed.
LessIt is a magnificent labyrinth - built by many people from various cultures - visited by thousands from Christian cultures along the centuries. Note the graffiti left by crusaders on the huge doors and thresh hold. Look at the unique rituals - cleaning the resting stone - lighting candles. Go below ground level and...
MoreIt is a magnificent labyrinth - built by many people from various cultures - visited by thousands from Christian cultures along the centuries. Note the graffiti left by crusaders on the huge doors and thresh hold. Look at the unique rituals - cleaning the resting stone - lighting candles. Go below ground level and follow ancient stories related to the site which go back to Adam and Eve.
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