Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as the Church of the Resurrection, is a fourth-century church in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is the holiest site in Christianity and has been an important place for Christian visitors since the fourth century.

According to traditions from the fourth century, the church contains the site where Jesus was crucified at Calvary, or Golgotha, and the place of Jesus's empty tomb, where he was buried and resurrected. Both locations are considered very holy by most Christians. The church was built under Constantine the Great in the 4th century and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.

Today, control of the church is shared among several Christian denominations and other groups in a special way called the Status Quo. The main groups sharing the church include the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is still a very important place for millions of Christians around the world.

Name

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is also called the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre or the Holy Sepulchre. It is named for the tomb of Jesus. Christians believe this is where his resurrection happened. Some Eastern Christians call it the Church of the Resurrection or the Church of the Anastasis. "Anástasis" is a Greek word meaning 'resurrection'.

History

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most important Christian sites. Many believe it is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. The church has a long history that began in the fourth century.

After Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70, the Roman emperor Hadrian built a temple on the site. Later, the Roman emperor Constantine supported Christianity and allowed the Bishop of Jerusalem to search for Jesus's tomb. They found a cave believed to be Jesus's burial place. Constantine ordered the temple to be replaced with a church. This church included a rotunda called the Anastasis and a large basilica known as the Martyrium.

Over the years, the church faced challenges like fires and earthquakes. It was rebuilt many times, most famously by the Crusaders in the 12th century. Today, the church is still an important place for Christian pilgrims and is shared by different Christian groups.

Description

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is a very important place for Christians. It is believed to be where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. Many people visit this church as a pilgrimage.

The church has a courtyard called the parvis with several small buildings and chapels around it. Inside the church, there are many special areas. One is Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. There are chapels for different Christian groups here. Another important spot is the Stone of Unction, where Jesus' body was prepared for burial. In the center of the church is the Rotunda, a large round room with a small chapel called the Aedicule, which contains the tomb of Jesus. The church also has a main area called the catholicon with a large dome. There are many other chapels and special places inside the church, each with its own history and meaning for Christians.

Status Quo

Main article: Status Quo (Jerusalem and Bethlehem)

Long ago, leaders made rules to help different groups share important holy places peacefully. These rules were written down in old documents. Today, three main groups—the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic churches—share the care of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Each group has its own special jobs and places inside the church where they can pray and work.

Even with these rules, sometimes people disagree. But overall, the groups work together and share the church in a peaceful way.

Issues with Israeli authorities

In February 2018, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was closed because of a tax problem. The church had not paid taxes on some of its properties, like hotels and businesses. The city said churches do not need to pay taxes, but these places do.

In 2017, there were worries when the church sold some land. Church leaders were concerned this could affect access to the church. In March 2026, leaders were stopped from holding Palm Sunday celebrations because of safety rules after a nearby incident. Many leaders from different countries spoke out about this decision. Later, Israeli officials said they should have allowed a small group to enter the church.

Connection to Roman temple

The site where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre now stands was once a temple built by the Roman emperor Hadrian. This temple was dedicated to the gods Jupiter or Venus. It was placed at an important crossroads where the main roads of the city met.

Archaeologists have studied the area and found clues showing that the church was built on top of the old temple. Some parts of the church, like its round shape, might have been inspired by the temple that was there before. Researchers continue to discuss and learn more about these ancient structures and how they influenced the church's design.

Location

The New Testament says that Jesus’s tomb was outside the city walls, which was normal for burials long ago. Today, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is inside the old walls of Jerusalem. Historians think that when Jesus lived, the city was smaller and the tomb was outside the walls. Later, the city grew, and the walls were moved.

Recent digs near the church found very old remains of olive trees and grapevines, showing that plants grew there thousands of years ago. The church is part of a special protected area called a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Old City of Jerusalem. It is located near the Armenian Quarter and an area called the Muristan, which has been a place for Christian visitors to stay since ancient times.

Influence

Many churches in Europe were built to look like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For example, Santo Stefano in Bologna, Italy, has seven small churches that copy holy places in Jerusalem.

Churches in Germany, Russia, and the United States were also designed this way. These include the Heiliges Grab in Görlitz, the New Jerusalem Monastery in Moscow Oblast, and the Mount St. Sepulchre Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C.. During the Crusades, this church was very important in Christendom.