Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most unusual structures, let alone, "churches," I've visited in my history of exploration. A maze of pathways, domed rooms, grand halls and seemingly subterranean chambers, controlled by different orders of Christianity hide in the old city. Somehow it is both built grandly on a hill, but hidden around the corner amongst the alleys and bustle of vendors, tourists, and food markets. 

The Church is thought to contain both the site of the crucifixion as well as Jesus's empty tomb. The Church was consecrated in the year 335 and is currently divided amongst the Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox denominations. 

In this view of the main entrance a ladder can be seen below the left of a pair of windows. This ladder is known as the immovable ladder and is called such because the denominations who run the church agreed in the 1800s to keep the building in its current state, including ladder placement. 



This is the structure (Aedicule) that encloses what is thought to be the site of Jesus's tomb





Substantial details on the history of the very complex church can be found on Wikipedia. The marble slab shown above is where Jesus's body was thought to have been laid after the crucifiction. Today pilgrims rub clothes on the stone with the idea that this may give them miraculous powers. Note the plastic bags full of material that one person is planning to rub for family and friends.

This sense of faith of pilgrims is quite something to behold. Prayers over the various areas and sites in the church and incredibly long lines to visit the tomb within the church.





Text and photographs by George Parks
Sources are embedded in links

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Parish Congregational Church, Wakefield, MA

Image
First Parish Congregational Church, Wakefield, MA I intend to explore and experience the services of many different churches, predominantly near where I live in Massachusetts. These institutions are important, often overlooked and even misjudged centers of our communities that seek to make a positive impact on their participants, as well as others through their generosity and public service. It is possible that through this activity I may eventually consider a long term relationship with one of these pillars and foundations of the community, however I am eager to do a lot of exploring first. The Building & The History The church is picturesquely situated on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt between the Old Burying Ground and Lake Park. I was told by a parishioner, undoubtedly proud of his church that FPCC of Wakefield, is one of the oldest congregations in Massachusetts. The history page of FPCC states that it was the twenty-third church established in the Massachuset
Read more

First Lutheran Church, Malden, MA

Image
First Lutheran Church, Malden, MA As part of this blogging effort I intend to explore and experience the services of many different churches, predominantly near where I live in Massachusetts. These institutions are important, often overlooked and even misjudged centers of our communities that seek to make a positive impact on their participants as well as others through their generosity and public service. It is possible that through this activity I may eventually consider a long term relationship with one of these pillars and foundations of the community, however I am eager to do a lot of exploring first. The Building and History: First Lutheran Church of Malden is one of the oldest church structures still operating in Malden, Massachusetts. This congregation dates to the 1890s, with the structure being built in 1897 on the corner of Church and Waite St. in Malden. While some of the church’s original features have perhaps been covered in vinyl flooring and siding, b
Read more

First Congregational Church, UCC, Melrose, Massachusetts

Image
First Congregational Church, UCC, Melrose, MA Pillars & Foundations was started as an effort to explore my surrounding communities through their religious institutions, and to share my experiences at them with my neighbors and beyond. These organizations that are both social and spiritual, leave lasting impressions on the communities that they are in, and I find in my experiences that I've taken them for granted, and I suspect I'm not alone. What strikes me what all of these institutions strive to do is make a difference, and they do, regardless if it is one person looking for hope & community, or a with recipient of their charitable work. Building & History People who pass by the low profile octagonal church in Melrose should not be fooled by the contemporary campus. This organization has a long history ( information on FCCM website ) in the community dating back to 1848. The new building was constructed in 1970 following a fire tha
Read more

First Parish Malden, Unitarian Universalist, Malden, MA

Image
First Parish Malden, Unitarian Universalist, Malden, MA Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. The hope is to provide a window into these organizations allowing those who might not other wise venture in to appreciate these thoughtful, often intimate groups in our midst. Faith centers embody a drive to make a difference which they deliver upon, regardless if it is with one person looking for hope & community, or a recipient of their expansive charitable work. Building & History Aptly named First Parish was founded at the same time as the city it resides in, Malden, MA, in the year 1648. According to First Parish's website the church, primarily a Universalist church ( Unitarians merged with Universalists in 1961 ), has resided in five different buildings. This building, a granite neo-gothic revival structure, wa
Read more

Old South United Methodist Church, Reading, MA

Image
Old South United Methodist Church, Reading, MA Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. The hope is to provide a window into these organizations allowing those who might not other wise venture in to appreciate these thoughtful, often intimate groups in our midst. Faith centers embody a drive to make a difference which they deliver upon, regardless if it is with one person looking for hope & community, or a recipient of their expansive charitable work. Building & History Old South United Methodist Church sits in the Common Historic District of Reading on the corner of Main and Salem St. It is one of the most distinctive buildings in the town, and a sign inside the foyer states that it was constructed in 1817. The National Register of Historic places , which the church is listed with, describes the building as a Feder
Read more