Personally i found this church to be overrated. The queues to get in were long and with no shade it was unbearable.
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 6117 traveler reviewsNew
“The church that is many churches.”
It is the strangest church in the world, since it is not just a church, there are several churches in the same place; each with its own rules, ceremonies, decorations, cults and schedules so as not to interfere with others. To get to the point of the holy sepulcher is to make a line of...
MoreIt is the strangest church in the world, since it is not just a church, there are several churches in the same place; each with its own rules, ceremonies, decorations, cults and schedules so as not to interfere with others. To get to the point of the holy sepulcher is to make a line of more than 2 hours, so you must decide if it is what you want or better enjoy only the beauty of the temple and do other activities. You can not miss the visit of this church.
LessNew
“Worth the trip, but strange”
A lot of people think that this was where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. So for them it is a very emotional experience. However, many researchers believe that this is probably not the place where that happened. Even if it was, it is so covered with ornate marble, candles and lamps, and...
MoreA lot of people think that this was where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. So for them it is a very emotional experience. However, many researchers believe that this is probably not the place where that happened. Even if it was, it is so covered with ornate marble, candles and lamps, and so crowded, that one quickly loses any sense of the holy. I would go just to see what a lot of religious people do with a holy place. It is unique and certainly part of the history of Jerusalem. The ladder on the outside ledge, that has been left there for 100 years due to a religious dispute, speaks volumes. This site contrasts wonderfully with the Garden Tomb. Recommended to see both.
LessNew
“Expect long queues”