Holy Sepulcher Church
Holy Sepulcher Church - Jerusalem
Holy Sepulcher Church in Jerusalem is built at the "traditional"
site of
Jesus' crucifixion and entombment.
Not unlike the Nativity Church in Bethlehem, the Holy Sepulcher Church is an odd looking structure comprised of three different Catholic and Orthodox church buildings.
Moreover, the interior of the Holy Sepulcher Church has been carved up into six sections, each held by
the Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Egyptian
Coptic and Ethiopian churches of Jerusalem.
I was dismayed to learn that the tensions between the six groups sometimes led to shouting matches and even occasional fist fights inside the Holy Sepulcher Church. Today there are strict demarcations between them, down to thick boundary markings painted on the floor and the pillars of the Holy Sepulcher Church, as well as set times for crossing those boundaries. The Muslim residents of Old Jerusalem mock that when they want to see a fight, they go to the Holy Sepulcher Church.
Photographed above is the top of the entrance to the supposed holy sepulcher, adorned by inexplicably detailed and European-looking portraits of the twelve Apostles, all of whom were Middle Easterners.
I was dismayed to learn that the tensions between the six groups sometimes led to shouting matches and even occasional fist fights inside the Holy Sepulcher Church. Today there are strict demarcations between them, down to thick boundary markings painted on the floor and the pillars of the Holy Sepulcher Church, as well as set times for crossing those boundaries. The Muslim residents of Old Jerusalem mock that when they want to see a fight, they go to the Holy Sepulcher Church.
Photographed above is the top of the entrance to the supposed holy sepulcher, adorned by inexplicably detailed and European-looking portraits of the twelve Apostles, all of whom were Middle Easterners.