The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, known as the Church of the Resurrection to Eastern Orthodox Christians, is in the Old City of Jerusalem and it is the holiest Christian site in the world. It stands on a site that is believed to encompass both the Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, and the tomb (sepulchre) where he was buried. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 4th century

The original Byzantine church was destroyed by the Persians in AD 614.  Rebuilt shortly thereafter, the Egyptian caliph al-Hakim destroyed the church in 1009 and had the tomb hacked down to bedrock.  The Crusaders rebuilt the church and much of what is standing today is from that time period.  The ladder in the upper right window has been there since at least 1860, a testimony to rivalries between the church’s factions.  Walking into this Church is awe-inspiring and it is a "must see” on your next visit to Israel when you are in the Old City of Jerusalem!

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Click here to come with me to visit Judaism's holiest side, the Kotel: Western Wall