Church of Holy Sepulchre

About Church of Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a church in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, a few steps away from the Muristan. It is considered by many Christians to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. The church has been an important pilgrimage destination since at least the 4th century, as the traditional site of Golgotha (the Hill of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified) and the purported site of the resurrection. The edifice was built in 325 by Constantine the Great. It was destroyed by fire in 966, and then rebuilt by the Eastern Roman Emperor Basil II. The church was again destroyed by the Fatimids in 1009, but was rebuilt in 1048 by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. The Crusaders, who captured Jerusalem in 1099, made the church their headquarters. In 1187, Saladin captured the city and the church was sacked. The church was again damaged by fire in 1808, and was extensively renovated in 1852. The church is currently under the administration of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The church is a large basilica, with a central nave and two side aisles. The nave is flanked by two transepts, and the sanctuary is located at the eastern end. The church has a large atrium and a number of chapels in the courtyard. The roof of the church is covered with lead. The main entrance to the church is located on the northern side, and is surmounted by a large mosaic of the Ascension of Christ. The entrance is flanked by two columns, and above the entrance is a large mosaic of the Virgin Mary with the Child. The mosaics on the entrance were executed in the 12th century by the Byzantine artists Andronikos and his workshop. The interior of the church is decorated with