The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of the most significant places for all representatives of Christianity, as it is directly related to the coming of Christ. Every day, thousands of people come to Jerusalem who claim that the feelings after visiting the temple cannot be conveyed in words, because everything around is saturated with spirituality, and no pictures will convey the beauties inherent in the present look of the church complex.
History of the creation of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
The temple was built thousands of years ago, as for Christians this place has always been a shrine. In 135, a temple of Venus was erected in the area of the cave. The first church appeared thanks to St. Queen Elena. The new temple stretches from Golgotha to the Life-giving Cross.
The whole complex consisted of separate buildings. These included:
- a rounded temple-mausoleum;
- basilica with crypt;
- peristyle courtyards.
The facade of the Church of the Resurrection and its decoration were picturesquely decorated. The lighting process took place on September 13, 335.
We recommend reading about the Temple of Heaven.
In 614, Israel was attacked by Persian troops, after which the sacred complex was captured and partially destroyed. The reconstruction was completed by 626. A decade later, the church was again attacked, but this time the shrines were not damaged.
At the beginning of the 11th century, the Temple of the Holy Sepulcher was destroyed by Al-Hakim bi-Amrullah. Later, Konstantin Monomakh received permission to restore the holy cathedral. As a result, he built a new temple, but it was at times inferior to its predecessor in its grandeur. The buildings looked more like individual chapels; the rotunda of the Resurrection remained the main building.
During the Crusades, the complex was rebuilt with elements of the Romanesque style, as a result of which the new temple again covered all the holy places associated with the stay of Jesus in Jerusalem. The architecture also traced Gothic, but the original appearance of the cathedral with columns, called the "pillars of Helena", has been partially preserved.
In the middle of the 16th century, the rebuilt bell tower dropped slightly due to an earthquake. At the same time, the temple was expanded by the forces of Franciscan monks. They also took care of the interior decoration of the cuvuklia.
In 1808, a fire broke out, due to which the tent over the mausoleum and the mausoleum were significantly damaged. The renovation lasted about two years, after which the damage was repaired, and in the 60s of the 19th century the dome was given the shape of a hemisphere, which made it look like Anastasis, created by Constantine the Great.
In the middle of the 20th century, there were plans for a global restructuring of the temple, but it did not work out due to WWII. In 1959, a large-scale restoration began, and later, by the end of the century, the dome was also changed. In 2013, the last of the bells was delivered from Russia and installed at the planned location.
Denominations and the procedures established by them
Since the temple is the basis of Christianity, six denominations have the right to conduct services within it. All of them have their own chapel, each has a designated prayer hours. So, Golgotha and the Catholicon were given to the Orthodox Church. Liturgy in Cuvuklia is held in turn at different times.
To ensure a peaceful situation in the relationship of confessions, the keys to the temple were handed over to a Muslim family since 1192. The right to open the gates has been given to another Muslim family. Key holders are immutable, and responsibilities in both cases are inherited.
Interesting facts related to the Temple
Throughout the history of the temple, many attractions have been accumulated that are significant for representatives of different faiths. During the tour, the Immovable staircase is often shown, installed between the upper parts of the building. Previously, it was used by monks for quick entry, now it is not removed, since it is a symbol of the established order between confessions. The support of the staircase is on the Orthodox territory, and its end is attached to the part belonging to the Armenian confession. Changes to the structure of the temple can only be made with the consent of representatives of six confessions, so no one dares to remove this element from the past.
One of the columns of the facade of the Temple of the Lord is split. This is one of the miracles described in legend. A crack arose in 1634 on Holy Saturday. Due to the difference in the dates of the celebration of Easter, a conflict broke out between the confessions, because of which Orthodox parishioners were not allowed into the church to hold the ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire. Those who came to the service prayed right outside the walls of the cathedral, as a result of which, from a lightning strike from the crevice, the Holy Fire flared up. According to Orthodox customs, 33 candles must be lit from the Holy Fire, which, at the end of the service, are taken home to cleanse and protect the family hearth.
Usually tourists are interested in looking at the Anointing Stone, where Jesus was brought after the crucifixion. It got this name because a body was laid on it to be coated with oils before burial. The most beautiful mosaic icon adorns the wall opposite the Anointing Stone. During the tour, they must tell about the icon of the Mother of God and a part of the icon of the Sorrowful Mother of God.
To help tourists
Tourists who come to Jerusalem wonder where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is located. Its address: Old City, Christian Quarter. It is simply impossible to miss the complex, for this you do not need to ask for descriptions from passers-by. Opening hours in 2016 differ depending on the season. In spring and summer, you can stay on the territory from 5 to 20 hours, and in autumn and winter from 4:30 to 19:00.
Anyone can buy memorable souvenirs, buy health notes or take unforgettable photos. However, the very fact of visiting the temple will leave behind a lot of emotions, what can we say about those lucky ones who happened to attend one of the rituals, for example, a wedding.
