The Holy Sepulchre

See highlights from the history of the Holy Sepulchre at this site.

Built by Emperor Constantine in 335 A.D. on the very site of Christ's resurrection, the Holy Sepulchre houses the Calvary or Golgotha and the tomb of Christ. The building was destroyed in successive wars, transformed in the Persian period and finally rebuilt by the Crusaders.

During restorations following the fire of 1808 and the earthquake of 1927, it was possible to determine the topography of the Golgotha and the tomb of Christ.

The Holy Sepulchre has private and communal areas. The former are given to the seven communities who share the church while the communal areas are under the authority of the Armenians, Greek Orthodox and Latin churches.

A two million dollar renovation project of the rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre was completed at the end of 1996 with inauguration ceremonies on January 2, 1997.

I was really too young and immature to appreciate it when I toured the church nearly 23 years ago. What I do remember is that the tour ended outside facing the Holy Land Souvenier Shop, and also how crowded and small parts of the church were. Perhaps when the kids are older my wife and I will go back.

Via Dolorosa

From Voice of America:

Thousands of pilgrims from around the world crowded the narrow cobblestone streets of Jerusalem's walled Old City for the traditional Good Friday procession. Some of them carried large wooden crosses on their shoulders as they walked along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, the route that Jesus is believed to have taken to his crucifixion.

They visited the 14 Stations of the Cross on a warm and sunny spring day, singing hymns, praying and reading passages from the Gospels.

"Being in Jerusalem is like being in the exact place where everything happened, getting to imagine as best as we can, being on the ground that Jesus walked on, where he died on the cross and was risen for our sins," said Jila Sadihi, who came from the U.S. state of Texas. "And it's absolutely amazing. I'm very blessed to be here."

One of the more humorous anecdotes I have from my trip to Israel in 1985 was the sale at souvenier shops of dirt from the Via Dolorosa. Of course, the Via Dolorosa is paved.

Holy Sepulchre 360 tour

Think 360 degree camera tours are only for real estate listings? The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has a 360 degree virtual tour online. The above picture is a screen shot from the tour.