Edicule of the Tomb

The Edicule of the Tomb inside Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses the location venerated by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic... more

by Stephen Stookey

Title

Edicule of the Tomb

Artist

Stephen Stookey

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The Edicule of the Tomb inside Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses the location venerated by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic Christians as the site of Jesus' burial and resurrection. (Many Protestant Christians affirm the Garden Tomb as the location of Jesus' burial/resurrection.

Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the final steps on the Via Delarosa. Dating to the Byzantine era, the church is believed to sit atop the locations of the final Passion Week events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ--crucifixion, burial & resurrection.

Original construction dates to c.325 when Roman Emperor Constantine, a Christian convert, ordered a church built atop the presumed location of Calvary and the empty tomb of Christ. Constantine's mother, St. Helena, oversaw construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as the construction of the Church of the Nativity. Tradition claims (though much disputed) Helena discovered both the real cross of Christ and the tomb during construction. Little of the original Byzantine structure remains. The current church structure dates to rebuilding following the early 11th century (October 1009 CE) destruction of the Byzantine church by order of Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. The church complex has been expanded over the centuries to accommodate pilgrims. The exterior is deceiving as the church opens up into a massive complex of chapels, shrines and sanctuaries.

Today, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is administered under terms of the 1853 'Status Quo' by Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic Churches--the Greek Orthodox maintain the largest share of the complex--with the Coptic Orthodox, the Ethiopian Orthodox and the Syriac Orthodox each allowed a small presence within the church complex. The 'Status Quo' was established to end conflicts between groups over 'ownership' of the church, strictly delineating worship in common areas, identifying group specific claims within the complex, and requiring all involved groups must be in complete agreement on any and all adjustments to church. Physical fights are not uncommon among the custodian groups when offense is taken at an action deemed to encroach upon the territory of another within the church. The final term on agreement for changes/renovation/etc have led to gridlock on much needed restoration and renovation to the church complex. The 'immovable ladder' on the ledge above the entrance (visible in the picture just below the window center right) remains as it sat at the establishment of the 1853 'Status Quo.' To further keep the peace between the groups, the church is locked & unlocked daily by two Muslim families whose custodianship respectively of the lock and key date back to 1853.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre falls under UNESCO World Heritage Site designation under the organization's recognition Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls. The UNESCO designation recognizes some 220 historic sites of religious & cultural significance within the Old City sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and/or Islam.

Image captured with a Canon 5D III & Canon 16-35 f/2.8L USM lens.

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January 28th, 2015