Church of the Holy Sepulchre | Jerusalem
Church of they Holy Sepulchre
The Church of Holy Sepulchre marks the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. As Constantine the Great converted to Christianity, he became enthralled to bring Jesus' fame to the world.
He enlisted his mother, Helena, to seek out more information from Jerusalem. With the help of some local priests, they found the location of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Constantine ordered a church to be built upon the site and the Church of Holy Sepulchre was built in the 4th Century CE.
Fires and new rulers ransacked the site and rebuilt parts. What you see now is most closely resembling that of a reconstruction from the Byzantine crusaders of the 11th century.
This church can be very busy at times with tour groups and pilgrims. To avoid this, come early or late.
Let’s dive in.
Entering the Church
Upon entering through the main entrance, a sense of grandeur washes over you. The people that built the church certainly wanted to exude the prominence of what you are standing in.
The Stone of Unction lies before you straight ahead. This is the spot where Jesus was anointed before his burial. The stone dates back to 1810 and many visitors lie across it or just kneel to touch it.
Directly to your right is the Chapel of Calvary. This is the site where Jesus was brandished of his clothes and crucified on a cross. It’s difficult to imagine that this once was open range land and not in the middle of a bustling city.
You can climb the stairs and overlook the Crusader Chapel or see the Chapel of Adam. The Chapel of Adam holds the burial of the first two crusader rulers, Godfrey de Bouillon and Baldwin I.
As you travel further into the church towards the East, you’ll head down two flights of stairs that seems to be taking you down to an archaeological dig. This is the Chapel of St. Helena. Helena relates back to Constantine’s mother who, with the help of local priests, found three crosses marking Jesus’ burial.
Heading around the church back in the rear, you’ll find the Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre, or Christ’s Tomb. Here, you will be allowed to enter a tiny chamber and have an opportunity to have a moment of reflection, or just check it out. The line can be very long. Come early or late to avoid this. A nearby Priest may also hurry people along.
If you’re lucky, you might even hear a choir rehearsing within walls creating an enchanting environment. Also, thinkg about coming early or late to avoid the big crowds.
As one of the oldest and most important Christian sites in the world, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has no shortage of fascinating artifacts. Make sure to leave plenty of time within the bustling walls of the Old City in Jerusalem to check it out.