Church of the Holy Sepulcher Orthodox or Catholic. Journey to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (photo)

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of the most significant places for all representatives of Christianity, as it is directly connected with the coming of Christ. Every day, thousands of people come to Jerusalem, who claim that the feeling after visiting the temple cannot be expressed in words, because everything around is saturated with spirituality, and no pictures can convey the beauties inherent in the real view of the church complex.

History of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The temple was built thousands of years ago, as for Christians this place has always been a shrine. In 135, a temple of Venus was erected in the cave area. The first church appeared thanks to St. queen Elena. The new temple stretched from Golgotha ​​to the Life-Giving Cross.

The whole complex consisted of separate buildings. These included:

• temple-mausoleum of a rounded shape;
• basilica with crypt;
• peristyle courtyards.

The facade of the Church of the Resurrection and its decoration were picturesquely decorated. The lighting process took place on September 13, 335.

In 614, Israel was attacked by Persian troops, after which the sacred complex was captured and partially destroyed. The reconstruction was completed by 626. A decade later, the church was again attacked, but this time the shrines were not damaged.

At the beginning of the 11th century, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was destroyed by Al-Hakim bi-Amrullah. Later, Konstantin Monomakh received permission to restore the holy cathedral. As a result, he built a new temple, but it was many times inferior to its predecessor in its grandeur. The buildings were more reminiscent of individual chapels, the rotunda of the Resurrection still remained the main structure.

During the Crusades, the complex was rebuilt using elements of the Romanesque style, as a result of which the new temple again covered all the holy places associated with the stay of Jesus in Jerusalem. Gothic was also traced in the architecture, but the original appearance of the cathedral with columns called “pillars of Helen” was partially preserved.

In the middle of the 16th century, the rebuilt bell tower fell somewhat due to an earthquake. At the same time, the temple was expanded by the forces of the Franciscan monks. They also took care of the interior decoration of the Kuvuklia.

In 1808, a fire broke out, due to which the tent over the mausoleum and the cuvuklia were significantly damaged. The repair lasted about two years, after which the damage was repaired, and in the 60s of the 19th century, the dome was given the shape of a hemisphere, which made it look like Anastasis, created by Constantine the Great.

In the middle of the 20th century, there were plans for a global restructuring of the temple, but it was not possible to implement the plan due to WWII. In 1959, a large-scale restoration began, later, by the end of the century, the dome was also subjected to changes. In 2013, the last of the bells was delivered from Russia, which was installed in the planned place.

Confessions and the Orders Established by Them

Since the temple is the basis of Christianity, six denominations have the right to hold services inside it. All of them have their own chapel, each has specific hours for prayers. Thus, Golgotha ​​and Katholikon were given to the Orthodox Church. Liturgy in Kuvuklia is held in turn at different hours.

In order for a peaceful situation to reign in the relationship between confessions, the keys to the temple were handed over to a Muslim family since 1192. The right to open the gate is given to another Muslim family. The custodians of the keys are immutable, and the responsibilities in both cases are inherited.

Throughout the history of the temple, many sights have been accumulated that are significant for representatives of different faiths. During the tour, they often show the Immovable staircase installed between the upper parts of the building. Previously, it was used by monks for quick entry, but now it is not removed, since it is a symbol of the established order between confessions. The support of the stairs is on the Orthodox territory, and its end is attached to the part belonging to the Armenian confession. It is possible to make changes to the design of the temple only with the consent of representatives of the six faiths, so no one dares to remove this element from the past.

One of the columns of the facade of the Temple of the Lord is split. This is one of the miracles described by tradition. A crack appeared in 1634 on Holy Saturday. Due to the difference in the dates of the celebration of Easter between confessions, a conflict broke out, due to which Orthodox parishioners were not allowed into the temple for the ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire. Those who came to the service prayed right at the walls of the cathedral, as a result of which the Holy Fire flared up from a lightning strike from the crevice. According to Orthodox customs, 33 candles must be lit from the Holy Fire, which, at the end of the service, are taken home to cleanse and protect the family hearth.

Tourists are usually interested in looking at the Anointing Stone, where Jesus was brought after the crucifixion. It received this name because a body was laid on it for smearing with oils before burial. A beautiful mosaic icon adorns the wall opposite the Anointing Stone. During the tour, be sure to tell about the icon of the Mother of God and part of the icon of the Sorrowing Mother of God.

Help for tourists

Tourists who come to Jerusalem are wondering where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is located. Its address is Old Town, Christian Quarter. It is simply impossible to miss the complex, for this you do not need to ask passers-by for descriptions. Opening hours in 2016 vary by season. In spring and summer, you can stay on the territory from 5 to 20 hours, and in autumn and winter - from 4:30 to 19:00.

Everyone can buy memorable souvenirs, buy health notes or take unforgettable photos. However, the very fact of visiting the temple will leave behind a lot of emotions, what to speak of those lucky ones who happened to attend one of the ceremonies, for example, a wedding.

There is no doubt that the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of the most important shrines located in Israel. Today, many pilgrims do not miss the moment to visit this attraction. It is worth saying that this is the place where the life of Christ ended, and it was also here that subsequent events took place after his execution. It is this temple that is the center of pilgrimage and one of the most beautiful and most important shrines in the history of mankind.

If we consider the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in more detail, then due attention should be paid to Kuvuklia, it is she who is one of the decorations of this temple. Kuvuklia itself is a small chapel, which is very beautifully decorated with marble.

Location in the temple

Anointing stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

It must be said right away that the temple is a rather extensive structure, which includes about forty buildings. Of course, a map or plan will be a great help when orienting in a given area, which will help you see what is in Cuvuklia and quickly find the necessary structure. By the way, at the entrance to Kuvuklia, on both sides there are beautiful candlesticks and lamps, and ancient icons are hung on the walls, which are of extraordinary value. If we consider everything more carefully, we can see that this complex includes:

• rotunda, on the territory of which Kuvuklia is located;
• Calvary;
• the ancient temple of Katholikon;
• underground temple of the Acquisition of the Life-Giving Cross;
• churches;
• chapels.

The very same Edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the photo of which is placed in any tourist guide, consists of two rooms, this is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the room, which is called the Angel's Chapel.

In one of the parts of Kuvukliya there is the Holy Sepulcher, this is the name of a separate room where the corresponding exhibit is located. It is in this room, according to religious data, that the burial place of Christ is located. It is a stone bed, covered with a white marble slab, which is located on the right side of the entrance. According to religious data, the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion took place at this place. By the way, in terms of size, this room is not so big, according to eyewitnesses, it can accommodate only a few people.

Important! Inside Kuvuklia, it is the Holy Sepulcher that is the main altar of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, and there are simply an incredible number of people who want to get here.

Edicule

Inside Kuvukliya there is also the Angel's Chapel, this building has a more expanded scale, and is located on the eastern side. It is believed that the Angel, who sat on this stone, announced the resurrection of Christ. It is part of this stone that is embedded in the pedestal, located in the middle of the chapel. By the way, in this room there are two holes that are used to transmit the Holy Fire. The Patriarch passes the fire through one hole to the Christians, and through the other the priest passes it to the Armenians. Between themselves, these two rooms, which belong to the chapel, are connected with a very low arch.

Historical facts

The burial place of Christ has been revered since ancient times, we can say that even the very first Christians considered this place to be the most holy. Even during the construction of a huge church by Constantine I, his mother Elena conducted excavations, with the help of which they managed to get the Holy Sepulcher, nails and three crosses.

Kuvukliya is presented in the most beautiful form in all the photos, but few people know that the old building died in a fire that happened in 1808. Already in 1810, a new structure was built, which retains its appearance to this day. When renovating the building, the parameters of the cuvuklia, which is located in the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery, were taken as the basis. Unfortunately, in 1927, due to an earthquake, the state of the structure was damaged. This event led to the fact that the building had to be reinforced along the side walls with beams. Thus, today pilgrims from all over the world have the opportunity to read this attraction.

Existing parts

It should be said right away that 6 churches share their powers in this shrine, and they also represent three main areas of worship:

• Catholic Church;
• Greek Orthodox;
• Ethiopian;
• Syrian;
• anti-Chalcedon Armenian;
• Coptic.

This distribution has its own rules, which must be observed by all representatives of churches. Thanks to the historical statute, order in property and service is ideally preserved. It must be clarified that all possessions are stipulated in a strict manner, and not a single change passes without notifying the members of the churches. As for the common possession, it applies only to the stone of chrismation. To understand the essence of this arrangement, it is necessary to consider the three main religions on the basis of which this area is kept:

• Orthodox Church. It must be said that this direction protects the most important shrines that are in the temple. It is this church that first begins its services on Holy Saturday. If we consider those parts that belong to her possessions, then this is the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, the northern aisle of Mount Golgotha, one of the tiers of the rotunda, the underground chapel of the Finding of the Cross, the aisle of Adam's Mount, as well as the Virgin of Sorrows;
• Roman Catholic direction. The churches of this direction have authority over such exhibits as the throne of St. Mary Magdalene, the tier of the gallery rotunda, the southern part of Golgotha ​​and the underground chapel of the Finding of the Cross (this shrine is divided between the two directions);
• the third direction includes all other churches. Such a formulation of the question suggests that these churches have their own purpose.

Features of Kuvuklia

The Edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher has its own peculiarity, which is distinguished by the most beautiful decorations. One of them is a Russian carved silver canopy, which is presented in the form of twelve icons with the holy apostles.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also known as the Church of the Resurrection, is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is considered one of the main Christian shrines in the world. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was erected on the site where it is believed that Golgotha, the mountain on which Jesus was crucified, and the tomb in which he was buried were located.

Story

The mountain on which the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is located has been a place of worship since the second century. There is no exact data on what exactly was located here at that time, but according to the most common version, there was a temple dedicated to Aphrodite on the mountain.

In the fourth century, Emperor Constantine I ordered the construction of a Christian basilica on the mountain. During excavations for the erection of a new building, shrines associated with the crucifixion of Christ were discovered, namely the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord and the tomb, which supposedly became the burial place of Jesus. In connection with these finds, the emperor decided to dedicate a new temple to the resurrection of the Savior.

At the beginning of the 11th century, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was destroyed by order of Caliph Al-Hakim-bi-Amrullah. The restoration of the Temple took almost half a century. After the conquest of Jerusalem by the troops of Saladin, the Temple passed into the possession of the Muslims. Since then, the keys to the Temple have been kept in the Muslim family of Jaud Al Ghadiya to this day, although the Temple itself is considered a Christian shrine. How did it happen? The fact is that the Temple does not belong to any one denomination, it is divided between six main Christian areas, including Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian. Later they were joined by the Coptic, Syrian and Ethiopian denominations. This division has repeatedly caused conflicts, therefore, in order to maintain a balance and not show preference for one of them, it was decided to leave the keys to the temple in the hands of the Muslims.

Structure of the Temple

At the entrance to the Temple, you can immediately see where the body of Christ was being prepared for burial. Today this place belongs to four confessions at once: Armenian, Coptic, Greek Orthodox and Catholic.

The staircase on the right side of the entrance leads to Kalvaria, also known as Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. Here you can see the Altar of Nails, owned by Catholics, which depicts Jesus nailed to the cross. Adjacent to the Catholic chapel is Kalvaria, which belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Here is located Calvary rock, which became the basis for the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Just below Kalvaria on the main floor (accessed through the door near the Stone of Anointing) is the Chapel of Adam, which contains a shard of rock. It is believed that Jesus was crucified in the same place where Adam was buried. Adam's Chapel belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church.

Heading west from the Stone of Anointing, you will find yourself in the central part of the Temple, known as the Rotunda, under the dome of which is kept Kuvuklia - the Holy Sepulcher. Armenian, Catholic and Greek Orthodox liturgies are served daily inside the Holy Sepulcher.

Inside the tomb are two small rooms. One of them is the Angel Chapel, which is based on a piece of stone carried away by angels from the place of Resurrection. belongs to the Greek Orthodox denomination.

On the right (northern) side of the tomb is the Catholic area, which includes a large Chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene - it is believed that this is where Jesus appeared to Mary after his resurrection, and a private chapel owned by Franciscan monks.

At the eastern end of the north aisle is the Chapel, erected on the site of Christ's imprisonment before the crucifixion. On the right are the Centurion's Chapel of Longinus, belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church, and belonging to the Armenian Church.

Going down the stairs, from here you can get to the Chapel of St. Helena, which belongs to the Armenian Church. After going down the stairs another 13 steps, you will find yourself in the Chapel of Finding the Life-Giving Cross, which belongs to Catholics and Orthodox.

After visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, you can also see the buildings located in the eastern part of the courtyard: the Coptic Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, from which you can get to the Armenian and Ethiopian chapels.

Practical Information

Church of the Holy Sepulcher is located at: Saint Helena Street in the Old City.

The temple is open daily: in summer from 5.00 to 21.00 (until 20.00 on Sundays) and in winter from 4.00 to 19.00.

Entrance to the Temple is free, and it is open to representatives of all faiths. The only requirement for visitors is modest, closed clothing.

Keep in mind that the crowd at the entrance to the Temple is not controlled in any way, so prepare in advance for the fact that you will have to stand in line for at least an hour. To avoid queues, try to arrive as early as possible, preferably before 7:00. For a visit, it is better to choose a weekday: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

When planning your visit to the Temple, check the calendar of Jewish holidays. If possible, try to avoid visiting the Temple during the period of Passover, Christmas, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah and other significant religious events for Jews.

If you want to not only see the Temple, but also attend the liturgy, check the hours of the services in advance, as they may take place at different times for different denominations.

Quote from repman

Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Holy Sepulcher) in Jerusalem There is probably no place on earth more sacred for Christians than the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem

Orthodox chapel of Golgotha ​​in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, modern view

It was here, according to the Bible, that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and three days later, Jesus Christ was resurrected. The history of the temple has more than one century and is full of secrets and mysteries. Repeatedly they tried to destroy it, burn it, wipe it off the face of the earth. However, there were always true Christians who restored, completed, decorated the Temple, preserving it for posterity.

Western part of the Orthodox side-altar of Golgotha

The original name of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is "Anastasis", that is, "Resurrection". The Greeks today call it the Temple of the Resurrection of Christ.

An amazing event took place at this place: Christ is Risen from the dead

It was built by order of St. Helena, the mother of the great Emperor Constantine, during whose reign Christianity acquired the status of the state religion. Already at an advanced age, St. Elena had a wonderful dream, according to which she had to go to Jerusalem to find the sacred place where Jesus Christ was martyred. As a result of the excavations, a cave was discovered with the Holy Sepulcher and the Cross on which the Son of God was crucified. It is here that St. Elena ordered the construction of the Temple.

The Holy Sepulcher is a small room, only 1.93x2.07 m, with a stone burial bed covered with a marble slab, located 50 cm from the floor. The chapel of the Angel (3.4x3.9 m) is a rectangular room, passing through which you can get into the Holy Sepulcher. According to the Bible, an angel sat on a stone here, bringing the news of the Resurrection of Jesus. Part of this sacred stone is today on a pedestal under glass.

The first Temple of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem was a complex consisting of a rotunda with the Holy Sepulcher, a basilica and a garden of Joseph of Arimathea with Golgotha. The solemn consecration of the Temple took place on September 13, 335. When the Persian king Khozroes captured Jerusalem in 614, some buildings were destroyed and the Holy Cross was stolen. Fifteen years later, the Temple experienced a second birth: it was restored at his own expense by Emperor Heraclius, who returned the Holy Cross to its place.

The main chapel of the Church of the Resurrection - Katholikon belongs to the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, as evidenced by two throne places in its eastern part. Above the iconostasis there is a gallery with three small balconies - ambos, from where, according to ancient Byzantine rules, the Gospel should be read. Next to the entrance is a vase made of marble, which serves as a stand for a hemisphere, which means "the navel of the Earth", i.e. her spiritual center.

Another attempt to destroy the Temple was made by the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi - Amr - Allah in September 1009, as a result of which the basilica was damaged and the tomb was destroyed. It was restored by Emperor Constantine Monomakh in 1048. A serious reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was carried out by the crusaders at the end of the 12th century. Through their efforts, the so-called "pillars of Helena" - the pillars of the rotunda - were restored and the Katholikon and the five-tiered bell tower were erected.

Orthodox Chapel of Golgotha ​​in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, modern view

The earthquake of 1545 had a devastating effect on the Temple, as well as a fire that broke out in 1808, as a result of which the wooden tent that crowned Anastasis was destroyed. It was possible to restore it only in the middle of the 19th century. Another natural disaster - the earthquake of 1927 - caused damage to Kuvukliya and the dome of the Katholikon, which were subsequently strengthened and decorated with the faces of saints.

The first - the Altar of the Crucifixion - belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. It is located on the site of the Cross, above the rock. Around it, under the glass, the surface of Golgotha ​​is visible. In the hole located under the altar, you can put your hand down and touch the rock

Today, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is a large architectural complex consisting of a rotunda - a building crowned with a round dome with Kuvuklia located under it, an underground Church of the Finding of the Life-Giving Cross, Katholikon, the Church of St. Helena and Calvary - the places of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and several Aisles.

Dome of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ

The ceremony of the convergence of the Holy Fire is held annually in the temple.

The main rights of possession and use of the shrines of the Temple belong to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the complex of administrative buildings of which directly adjoins the southwestern side of the Temple.

...Christ is taken down from the Cross and carried to be buried... Near each Jewish coffin there was a stone on which the deceased was placed before burial to be anointed with aromas. This stone was called the anointing stone. In the photo we see exactly such a stone on which the body of Jesus Christ was laid.

According to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, today the Temple is jointly owned and operated by several Christian denominations, strictly observing the Status quo, established in 1757. It stipulates the territorial, property and legal boundaries that are assigned to each confession.

A fresco is placed opposite the Stone of Anointing, which shows how this happened.

"At the Cross of Jesus stood His Mother and His Mother's sister, Mary Cleopova, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus, seeing the Mother and the disciple standing here, whom he loved, says to His Mother: Woman! Behold, Your son. Then he says to the disciple: Behold, Your Mother And from that time on, this teaching took Her to himself" (Gospel of John, 19th chapter)

The photo shows the Kuvukliya, a huge ark built over the Tomb, in which the Body of Jesus was laid. "There was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid. Jesus was laid there for the sake of the Jewish Friday, because the tomb was near" (Gospel of John, 19th chapter)

This is a modern cuvuklia over the Holy Sepulcher. It is far from the first in a row, but was built 200 years ago.

The round Church of the Holy Sepulcher looks like the Cosmos, the Universe, and finally, half a giant Easter egg. In the center stands the Holy Sepulcher

At the entrance to the cuvuklia. In order to enter and venerate the stone shelf on which the Body of Jesus lay, a few seconds are given. The flow of people never stops...

First, having entered the cuvuklia, we find ourselves in a small cell, in which we see a stone taken under glass. This stone is a remnant of a massive stone door that closed the Holy Sepulcher. The door of the Tomb, as we see, was rolled off by an Angel so that women could look into the empty coffin. What are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here., He is Risen! On this remnant of a stone door, which serves as a throne, the Liturgy is usually performed.

The silver circle under the Orthodox throne of Golgotha ​​marks the place where the Cross of the Lord stood.

Orthodox throne

The Temple of Jesus in Jerusalem is not just a historical landmark, it is a symbol of the inviolability of the Christian faith. Everything here reminds believers of how Jesus Christ ended his earthly journey and resurrected. Inside, opposite the entrance, is the Anointing Stone. After being taken down from the Cross, the Body of Jesus Christ was laid on him before burial, anointed with oils. Eight lamps never go out above the stone (as many as Christian denominations)

Opposite Golgotha, near the entrance to the cave where the criminals were before execution, lies a stone called "the bonds of the Savior." The soldiers encased the feet of Jesus in this stone.

To the right of the first altar is the second - the Altar of Nails. It was at this place that Jesus Christ's clothes were torn off, and here he was nailed to the Cross. Belongs to the Altar of Nails to the Catholic Order of St. Francis

Another part of the Temple of the Lord - the Chapel of the separation of the robes of the Lord, is located to the right of the stairs leading to the dungeon. Here, according to legend, the soldiers, casting lots, divided the clothes of Jesus among themselves. Nearby is the Chapel of the centurion Longinus, who suffered for Christ. In this part, a blind woman found the head of St. Longinus and received her sight. Here is also a part of the stone from Golgotha

The pilgrim can kneel and kiss the place where the Cross of Christ was fixed

There is also a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin, with a pierced heart. And then you immediately remember the formidable words of the elder Simeon, when the little Jesus was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem (the feast of the Presentation): "A weapon will pierce your soul..."

On the other side of the Cross of Christ is the place where the cross of the crucified prudent thief was fixed. The inscription in Greek is a quote from the Gospel: "And when they came to the place called Skull, there they crucified Him and the malefactors, one on the right, and the other on the left" (Luke 23:23)

Courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Altar of the Aisle of Division fig.

Chapel of the centurion Longinus - a Roman officer who led the soldiers who executed Jesus. Seeing the death of the righteous man and the signs that followed it, the centurion believed. Divine Liturgy is also served on this stone throne

And above the throne - episodes from the life of the centurion Pongin

Another chapel: the place where Christ was humiliated before Death

Underground part of the Temple. We are in Adam's chapel. According to legend, the Cross of Christ was installed just above the place of the first man - Adam. The blood of Christ ran down the cracks of the rock and drenched the skull of Adam. Under the glass you can see this crevice in which the skull of Adam was located.

A staircase of 39 steps leads to the Chapel of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena

Going down another 13 steps, we find ourselves in the same cistern, cleansed by St. Helena Equal to the Apostles. This is the place of Finding the Holy Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. On the left is the Catholic throne, on the right is the Orthodox

In the depths we see a fenced area with a burning candle. This is the Orthodox throne of the Finding of the Life-Giving Cross of Christ

Graffiti of the ancient crusader pilgrims who came here

Illustration of the first Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built under Queen Elena

Edicule of the time of Queen Helena

During the Divine Liturgy

It is not given to us to see the Resurrection of Christ, we can only imagine it to the best of our imagination. But to survive the Paschal state, the feeling that the power of God is pouring into you, you become different, God-giving blood flows in your veins - we can do it!

Photo courtesy of Priest Konstantin (Parkhomenko)

According to Scripture, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on the site of the crucifixion of Jesus. It was here, according to legend, that he was buried and then miraculously resurrected. This place is one of the most important for Christians around the world.

The history of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is very ancient. The very first church here was built by the mother of Emperor Constantine named Helena, who converted to Christianity at an advanced age. Where the famous Church of the Holy Sepulcher is today, there was in those days a temple of one of the pagan goddesses - Venus. Entering his dungeon, Elena was the first to discover the entrance to the cave in which the Holy Sepulcher and the cross - the crucifixion of the Savior were located.

Over the centuries, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ has been destroyed and rebuilt more than once, and also passed into the jurisdiction of either Muslim or Christian rulers. In 1810 the church was rebuilt after a terrible fire.

Now the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem has three parts: the Church of the Resurrection, the Church on Golgotha ​​and the chapel of the Holy Sepulcher. This territory is divided between the Armenian, Syrian, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Ethiopian and, of course, the Roman Catholic denominations by agreement of 1852. Each of these denominations prays in the temple at a strictly defined time for it. To prevent conflicts, the keys to the temple building have been kept in the Muslim family since the 12th century, where they are inherited by the eldest of the sons. Any changes in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher can only be made with the general consent of representatives of all faiths.

Excursion to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

All local tours start at the central arched entrance, next to which lies the so-called Anointing Stone on the marble floor. On it, Nicodemus and Joseph anointed the body of Jesus with oils before burial. Immediately after the Stone begins the Church of the Resurrection. To the left of the stone is the central part of the temple - the Rotunda - a round room with columns and a dome. The light of the sun penetrates into the opening of this dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and on the eve of Easter - the Holy Fire. The dome depicts 12 rays, symbolizing the 12 apostles, and the division of each of the rays into three parts is a symbol of the triune God.

In the Rotunda is located the Edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This marble chapel is divided into two parts: the first is the Holy Sepulcher, and the second is the so-called chapel of the Angel. Through the windows of the latter, the Holy Fire is transmitted, descending to all parishioners on the eve of Holy Pascha.

The Holy Sepulcher itself is a small cave in which 3-4 people can hardly fit. According to legend, the body of Christ rested on this burial bed. On the walls of the Holy Sepulcher hang Catholic and Armenian icons depicting the resurrection of Christ the Savior and the Virgin Mary with the baby in her arms.

Another shrine of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ is, of course, Golgotha. There were three crosses here. The places of two of them, on which the robbers were executed, are circled in black, and the place of the third cross, on which Christ himself was executed, is circled in silver. The top of Golgotha ​​is divided into Catholic and Orthodox parts, in each of which church services take place. An ancient staircase leads to modern Golgotha.

In the center of the third part of the temple, which is called the temple of the Resurrection, there is a stone vase, symbolizing the "navel of the earth." This is the place where God created Adam. It is believed that in the dungeon of the Church of the Resurrection, Queen Elena saw the cross. The icons in the Church of the Resurrection tell of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

The domes of the Jerusalem temple are decorated with mosaics depicting the Mother of God, Christ the Savior, Archangels Michael and Gabriel, John the Baptist, seraphim and cherubim.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Israel today is the holy center of the Christian religion, to which many believers from all over the world make a pilgrimage every year.