The Garden Tomb
In the 19th century, scholars began to challenge the Christian tradition that put the site of Jesus’s burial and resurrection at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City’s Christian Quarter. Many Protestants also had their doubts – in large part because the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was the site sanctioned by the Roman Catholic establishment.
It was Major General Charles Gordon, a British officer and administrator, who picked up the gauntlet and began searching for an alternative site. In 1883, Gordon found a rocky escarpment near Damascus Gate. The fact that the escarpment resembled a skull suggested to Gordon that he had stumbled upon the true Golgotha, which may have been derived from the Hebrew and Aramaic for ‘skull.’ He also concluded that one of several tombs uncovered nearby in 1869 had to be the tomb of Jesus. John the Evangelist specifies that the tomb was located in a garden, and the site identified by Gordon contained an ancient cistern and a wine press; hence the name Garden Tomb (it’s also known as Gordon’s Calvary).
Despite the fact that archaeologists (not to mention the Catholic Church) have yet to embrace the Garden Tomb as the site of Jesus’ burial, the spot has become a popular Protestant place of pilgrimage. It is a quiet place, perfect for prayer and reflection.
Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, by Noam Chen
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 2178 traveler reviews
The Garden Tomb has a lot of evidence going for it as the authentic brief 3-day resting place of Yeshua, but the staff are honest and never claim that it is definitely the correct spot. Our guide did not hesitate to present the gospel message, which is a wonderful thing. The site...
MoreThe Garden Tomb has a lot of evidence going for it as the authentic brief 3-day resting place of Yeshua, but the staff are honest and never claim that it is definitely the correct spot. Our guide did not hesitate to present the gospel message, which is a wonderful thing. The site has been VERY encroached upon by the new city over the last century or so, but they are doing a great job to keep it protected as best they can. Don't miss the chance to shop in the Arab market just down the street.
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Our Israeli/American licensed guide made the reservations for our 40 person tour group. We were able to sing & have our own communion service there...the gift shop sells small wooden communion cups that you can use here. Tour bus parking on site with a short walk into the gardens & tomb. Disabled person MAY...
MoreOur Israeli/American licensed guide made the reservations for our 40 person tour group. We were able to sing & have our own communion service there...the gift shop sells small wooden communion cups that you can use here. Tour bus parking on site with a short walk into the gardens & tomb. Disabled person MAY have difficulty walking here & thru out the grounds as there are steps, inclines & uneven paths. The actual tomb has a high step to go over in order to see inside.
LessThe real truth is that no one is 100% certain where Jesus was buried. That being said, I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.To me it felt very dark and oppressive and I didn't like it. As a Christian, I felt that the Garden...
MoreThe real truth is that no one is 100% certain where Jesus was buried. That being said, I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.To me it felt very dark and oppressive and I didn't like it. As a Christian, I felt that the Garden Tomb is most like where Jesus was buried (even if it isn't the actual place). It was the only place on our entire Israel tour that I felt the presence of Jesus. I was so impressed with the Garden Tomb for multiple reasons: 1). They didn't charge admission. All of the other places have been commercialized and have lost the respect and holiness I believe it deserves, 2). The tour guide is a volunteer and you can tell he absolutely loved what he was doing. He had respect for what possibly happened there. They did ask for donations, but that is only logical for a place that doesn't charge admission. And there was a small gift shop. The mountain that they call Golgotha did have an unsightly bus parking beneath it. It is unfortunate but not a real reason to complain. The Garden Tomb was hands down my favorite part of our tour.
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