What is inside the Church of Holy Sepulchre?

 

Why is the Church of the Holy Sepluchre important?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the world's most distinguished places of worship. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is important because it has played a special role in Christendom for almost 2000 years—it provides authenticity to the Gospel narratives, provides a connection to the earliest days of the New Testament Church, and has inspired countless pilgrims who have made pilgrimages to the site over the centuries.




 

Where is the Church of the Holy Sepluchre located?

The Church of the Holy Sepluchre is in the northwest quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. This is where Jesus spent much time teaching and ministering to those in need.

In ancient times, the area was a rock quarry with rugged features. The area's high point became known by the Greek term Golgatha, meaning the place of the skull or skulls. The hill earned its name because its ragged features resembled a skull, and it was a favored site for the Roman crucifixions. Later, the area became known by the Latin term Calvary, meaning skull. The Latin term has a strong tie to the crucifixion of Christ.

How large is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

The church's footprint is approximately 1.25 acres. The revered site includes 22 chapels, a crypt, and many spectacular features. The church's footprint encompasses Golgatha, the location of the crucifixion, and the tomb where the body of Jesus (after being taken down from the cross) rested until He rose again on the third day.

When was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built?

· Early history: Because the site has ties to areas where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again, many believe it became a site for pilgrims and worshippers in the first century A.D. One must remember, however, that first-century A.D. Christians were persecuted and public worship services were rare. Christians became a target of the Romans on orders of Emperor Nero after 64 A.D. In 252 A.D., Emperor Decius forbid adherence to the Christian faith in any part of the Empire on punishment of death.

· Preparations for the first Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

In early 313 A.D., Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan. This Edict allowed Christians to worship without fear of imprisonment. Desiring to demonstrate his faith, Constantine ordered the destruction of a Roman temple to Jupiter and Venus, located where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre now stands.

Soon after, Constantine sent his mother, Helena, to Jerusalem. The famed Church Father Eusebius and Macarius, the Bishop of Jerusalem, accompanied her. Their mission was to discover the location of Calvary and the tomb where Joseph of Arimathea placed the body of Jesus. Helena was in Jerusalem when workers removed the last remnants of the temple to Jupiter and Venus. The construction/excavation site revealed a rock-cut tomb, which they believed was the burial site of Jesus.

Building the first Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

In 327, Constantine commissioned the building of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity commemorates the birth of Jesus. Construction on the Church of the Holy Sepluchure, designed to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, was finalized on September 13, 335 A.D. The church's massive footprint encompassed the sites where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again.

Who built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

· Early history—a rock quarry: The area where the Lord was crucified and buried had been a rock quarry for centuries before Jesus was born. Scripture notes that in the first century A.D., Joseph of Arimathea purchased a tomb within the current site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—so scholars know that by 30 or so A.D., crypt areas had been carved into the hillside and made available to the wealthy of the time.

· Early history—a temple to a Roman gods: Romans seeking to thwart the growth of Christianity established a temple to Jupiter and Venus on the site in 135 A.D. Emperor Constantine the destruction of the temple after reportedly becoming a Christian in 313 A.D. By 326 A.D., the temple was all but gone. Later that year, Constantine’s mother, having been sent to Jerusalem by Constantine, identified the area where the Church of the Holy Sepluchre now stands as the location where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again.

· Early history—the first Christian church: Shortly after that, Constantine secured the services of the architect Zenobius to build a massive church covering two revered sites—the crucifixion and the resurrection. Constantine, likely using Roman and Christian workers, dedicated the first Church of the Holy Sepulchre on September 13, 335 A.D.

· Destroyed in 1009—rebuilt in 1048, 1808 and 1927: Over the centuries, various armies and empires asserted control over the region. The church, which remained intact until 1009, was destroyed by Fatimid caliph al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh. Christians rebuilt the church in 1048 (though smaller than the original), and crusaders expanded the work in 1099. A fire almost destroyed the church in 1808, and an earthquake caused significant damage in 1927. However, we are pleased to announce major restoration work in recent decades.

· The Paris Treaty of 1856 and the plan to maintain and protect the Church:

Following the Paris Treaty of 1856, the often warring factions who claimed the region agreed to preserve and protect key religious sites—including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The treaty stipulated that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was to be shared by six Christian denominations: the Catholic-Franciscans, the Greek-Orthodox, the Armenians, the Copts, the Assyrians, and the Ethiopians. Each one of these denominations are responsible for different aspects of the complex.

What is inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre encompasses the sites of Jesus’ Crucifixion and burial. Biblical Archeology noted the Church of the Holy Sepulchre includes a Byzantine gallery, multiple chapels, the “Rock of Golgatha,” the Crusader Campanile (bell tower), and the “Stations of the Cross.” Also inside the church is the stone of unction (the stone slab upon which the body of Jesus was laid), Jesus’ burial chamber, the burial chambers of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and numerous rooms for prayer, reflection, candle lighting, and worship.