✝️ Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Israel
About This Sacred Site
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City is Christianity's holiest site. It encompasses both Golgotha (Calvary), where Jesus was crucified, and the empty tomb where he was buried and rose from the dead. The church has been a major pilgrimage destination since it was first built by Emperor Constantine in 326 CE. Today it is shared by six Christian denominations, each maintaining their own sections under a centuries-old arrangement called the Status Quo.
Key Facts
- •Built by Emperor Constantine I in 326 CE over the sites of crucifixion and burial
- •Shared by six Christian denominations: Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopian
- •The Stone of Anointing marks where Jesus's body was prepared for burial
- •A Muslim family has held the key to the church since the 12th century
- •The Edicule structure encases the tomb where Jesus was laid
Location
Coordinates: 31.7785, 35.2296
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