History speaks for itself and the faith of everyone who is there is amazing beautiful.. The art in the building is priceless.
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 6771 traveler reviewsNew
“Wort seeing”
New
“Very impressing”
No doubt this Church is probably the most impressing place for the Christians pilgrims going to Jerusalem. That is quite visible by their faith demonstrations in the most significant sites of the temple. Enjoy!
“History, religion and pilgrimage”
This church is the center of Christian faith, it’s built on the location where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. It is not one church it’s many built on top of one and other, you arrive at the entry in a side, there is a small plaza, it’s hard to imagine this is the...
MoreThis church is the center of Christian faith, it’s built on the location where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. It is not one church it’s many built on top of one and other, you arrive at the entry in a side, there is a small plaza, it’s hard to imagine this is the entry to this place that holds so much history. It is always crowded and there is lines to see the most holy locations. At the entrance you will see the the stone of Anointing, it’s believed Jesus body was prepared here for burial, you can kneel, pray and touch the stone. Close to the entrance you can also visit the place where the cross was located you have to climb a steep staircase in line to access a small Greek/Christian chapel, the line allows one by one to stop kneel, bow, and pray. You continue exploring and make sure you visit the space directly under the Calvary is the Chapel of Adam. You can continue walking and visiting many other chapels, you can admire the different architectural styles, arches and columns holding arches that allow the visualization of the complex construction during different centuries and cultures. In a rotunda Under a dome there is a small chapel that encloses the Holy sepulcher, there is always a long and slow line to visit the chapel. The spaces have little light, the areas are dim. It is a very special experience for Christians it’s meaning and history makes this visit a pilgrimage to the most holy of locations. Highly recommended for all.
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