Israel and You Spaces and Places in Israel
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been the center of strife between nations and denominations. Romans and Christians competed to designate this site as holy only to their own beliefs. Christians and Arabs fought bloody wars over the control of this church. Even today the various Christian denominations still argue about their rights in the holy site. This religious site in the Old City of Jerusalem is venerated as Calvary (Golgotha), where Jesus was crucified, and (according to Catholic and Orthodox traditions – however Protestants have their own site outside the Old City walls.) contains the place where Jesus was buried. The Emperor Hadrian built a Temple to Venus but Emperor Constantine replaced it with a church (325 C.E.). Here his mother Helena rediscovered the cross, and a tomb.
Under Arab Rule
Under the Arabs the site remained a church. Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab visited the church and prayed outside where there is now a mosque in his name. The almost complete destruction of the church by Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (1009) was one of the causes of the Crusades. The church was rebuilt in 1027-48 by Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos but remained under Arab control. During the crusader period the church became the destination of pilgrimages. Even after Saladin recaptured Jerusalem the Church of the Holy Sepulchre continued to draw Christian pilgrims.
In Jerusalem with Pastor Kenny Newsome
A virtual visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre guided by Pastor Kenny Newsome from Virginia in the US. See the Cross of Jesus, Stone of Anointing, the Edicule and much more.
Praying with Candles at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
Holy Sepulchre, a 3D-journey back in time
A journey back in time to tell the story of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the site defined in many Christian traditions as “the Centre of the World”.
The video by Mrs. Raffaella Zardoni for ATS pro Terra Sancta presents a 3D reconstruction of the basilica at different times, back to the stone cave which saw the burial and according to Christian tradition resurrection of Jesus.
See also:
Syrian Chapel in Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Coptic Orthodox Parishes in Jerusalem
