Jerusalem – one of the oldest cities on earth, which is inextricably linked with world culture and is at the confluence of the shrines of three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
All tours to Israel be sure to include a visit to Jerusalem – the place where you really touch the roots of History, biblical tradition and Evangelical covenants. Tours to Israel from Russia can have international tour operator “Tui”. A walk through the city accompanied by an experienced guide. The guide will take you through the narrow streets of the old quarters, will not get lost in the Arabic markets, and show you the sights and share your knowledge about the history, customs and legends.
Sightseeing in Jerusalem is rich. Tourists can visit the garden of Gethsemane, see the Cornerstone and Fire the Hyena, leaving his note in the Wailing wall, learn about the life of the modern inhabitants, to visit the scene of the Savior’s birth at Bethlehem (the territory belongs to Palestine), walk on the via Dolorosa – the way of the cross. To find a program to interest you on the tour website. The firm offers a wide range of programs, including visiting a place of pilgrimage for Christians of all denominations – Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
The building is erected on Golgotha, the mountain where according to the Evangelical Tradition was crucified, buried and risen Jesus. Here ends the path of suffering, the via Dolorosa and the last five are standing. The Church is divided six Christian denominations, each of which has its limits and watch for services:
The administrative building houses the headquarters of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.
Representatives of churches have their own limits – space for Worship. The scheme of joint possession and management was formed many centuries ago. Coexist Christians in different directions in the Main Shrine is not too friendly. Of the dissension of Christians shows real staircase leading to the second floor to the limit of the Armenian Orthodox Church. The construction embodies an agreement not to repair the Temple and not to change anything in its internal structure without coordination with other faiths-owners.
Another symbol of discord – cracked column. According to legend, in the night of the Passover, when the Holy fire descends, the representatives of the Armenian Church received permission from the Ottoman authorities to pray in the Cathedral one. Representatives of other faiths stood at the closed gate. However, the Holy fire in the night appeared in the room suddenly cracked one of the marble columns, spurting flame and the believers were able to light their Easter candles.
The keys of the Temple
The keys for nine centuries is stored in one Arab family and passed from father to son. The surname of this family – nusseibeh. Now the honor to open and close the Church belongs to the Vajji nusseibeh, engineer by education. Every day at exactly 4am Vajji opens the doors of the Cathedral and closes at 19: 00.
There is a tradition according to which members of Christian denominations every year I ask the Muslim to become the Keeper of the keys. The duties nusseibeh also includes the sealing of the Holy Sepulchre before the descent of the Holy fire. The coffin sealed with wax, the top is stamped, then the Patriarch begins to pray, and after some time on the stove appear to fire the flashes.
The decision to entrust the storage of the key from the main Christian Shrines of Muslim faith was made to avoid disputes between the denominations.
The history of the construction of the Temple
The place of execution, burial, and resurrection of Christ, revered since the first days of the emergence of Christianity. 135 year, on Calvary, during the persecution of Christians, by decree of the Roman Emperor Hadrian was erected the sanctuary of Venus and Jupiter. The first Christian Church appeared only in the fourth century, when Constantine, Christianity became the state religion. The Emperor’s mother Helena made a pilgrimage to the Holy sepulcher and at her request they were excavated, in which was discovered the tomb of the Savior and the three crosses. To find out which of them the Saviour was crucified, the cross was applied to the afflicted and sick, with Holy cross was healed.
At the scene of the finding of the cross Helena ordered to build the first Church. In 1545, the Church was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1808 in the building there was a large fire, a wooden dome over the Anastasis was completely destroyed, was severely damaged Edicule. In 1927 an earthquake caused the destruction of the Catholicon and new destruction in the Edicule. The building was restored, and reinforced beams and steel ties, and the dome is additionally decorated with images of saints.
Now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a complex of buildings, which consists of:
In 2016, the denomination began joint repair.
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