As the Holy Scripture says, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem was built on the site of the crucifixion of Jesus. It was here, according to legend, he was buried, and then resurrected miraculously. 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 Elena, who converted to Christianity, already at an advanced age. Where there is today the famous church of the Holy Sepulcher, there was in those days the 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 was located and the cross - the crucifixion of the Savior.
Throughout the centuries, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ was repeatedly destroyed and subjected to perestroika, and also passed to the management of 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 Temple of the Resurrection, the temple on Calvary and the chapel of the Holy Sepulcher. This territory is divided between the Armenian, Syrian, Greek-Orthodox, Coptic, Ethiopian and, of course, Roman Catholic faiths under the agreement of 1852. Each of these faiths prays in the temple at a time strictly determined 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 elder son. Any changes in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher can be made only with the general consent of representatives of all faiths.
Excursion to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
All local excursions start at the central arched entrance, next to which on the marble floor lies the so-called Stone of Chrismation. On it, Nicodemus and Joseph oiled the body of Jesus with oils before the burial. Right after the Stone, the Resurrection Church begins. 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 hole of this dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and on the eve of Easter there is the Holy Fire. On the dome are 12 rays, symbolizing the 12 apostles, and dividing each of the rays into three parts is the symbol of the triune God.
In the Rotunda is the Cave of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This chapel of marble is divided into two parts: the first is the Tomb of the Lord, and the second is the so-called side-chapel of the Angel. Through the windows of the latter is transmitted the Holy Fire, descending to all parishioners on the eve of the Holy Easter.
Directly the Holy Sepulcher is a small cave in which 3-4 people can hardly fit. According to legend, the body of Christ rested on this funeral bed. On the walls of the Holy Sepulcher there are Catholic and Armenian icons depicting the resurrection of Christ the Savior and the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms.
Another shrine of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ is, of course, Golgotha. There were three crosses here. Places of two of them, on which the robbers were executed, are circled in black circles, and the place of the third cross on which Christ himself was executed was a silver circle. The top of Golgotha is divided into Catholic and Orthodox parts, in each of which there are church services. The ancient staircase leads to modern Calvary.
In the center of the third part of the temple, which is called the temple of the Resurrection, stands a stone vase, symbolizing the "navel of the earth." It was in this place that God created Adam. It is believed that in the basement of the Church of the Resurrection Queen Elena and saw the cross. The icons in the Temple of Resurrection speak of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
The domes of the Jerusalem temple are decorated with mosaics with images of the Mother of God, Christ the Savior, the 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 pilgrimage every year.
