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Jerusalem: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

One of the holiest of places in the Christian world is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There was a Basilica built here by the Emperor Constantine in 335 AD and over the years there have been various invasions, desecrations and re-building of the Church.

The current building was built by the Crusaders in 1th 12th Century and is shared by the Armenian, Coptic, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Each of these groups jealously guard the spaces allotted to them; in fact, there have been fistfights over territory from time to time: perhaps not the greatest testimony to Christianity!

There is much historical evidence to back up the contention that this is indeed the spot not only where Our Lord was crucified but also where He was buried.

Some tours will take you to the “Garden Tomb”. This spot is especially popular with Protestant groups. Although the appearance is much like what you would have expected when Our Lord was entombed, there is no evidence that this is the site of His death and resurrection, and is not the place honored by Catholics.


Click here for the official website of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Photos courtesy Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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