Walking Through Holiness: Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre | A Sacred Tour in Jerusalem
- omorashty
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Jaffa Gate is full of tourists, local travelers, and schoolchildren. No matter how many times I've been there, Jerusalem is beautiful, interesting, and unique every time anew. I walked through the colorful and narrow market. I squeezed between Muslims, Jews, Christians, tourists, and teens returning from school, with colorful clothes hanging, small shops selling food items, and friendly vendors sitting on small wicker chairs, waiting for customers. Thus, smells and sounds mix, old and new, peoples and religions.
From the narrow markets, I arrived at the large entry courtyard in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The giant door is wide open, and people are coming in and out. I entered, looking at the large and impressive painting depicting the laying of Jesus on The Stone of Anointing after the crucifixion. Right after the entrance, under the painting, there is a long flat stone, The Stone of Anointing, where according to belief, Jesus was laid after being taken down from the cross. Believing people quietly and prayerfully placed their hands on the stone, asking for blessings and also to connect with Jesus.
I looked at the many paintings, the carved columns, the burning candles, and the tourists arriving to see the place, some of whom also prayed quietly and connected to the sanctity of the place. People were standing in line to enter the empty tomb of Jesus. Some were sitting around waiting for their turn. Right above the tomb, symbolically, there is a round window in the ceiling through which a beam of sunlight enters.
I continued to walk around the church and suddenly I heard my own language, Hebrew. A tour guide was explaining to a group of Israeli tourists about the church. We were happy to meet and I joined them for a while as I listened to the explanations. We entered a burial cave from the Second Temple period.
I climbed the stairs to a place called Golgotha. I looked at the paintings and the chandeliers and the place in general, and then I noticed a nest of doves above the large entrance door of the church. A dove was sitting there with eggs and chicks, in a place where people cannot reach.
I came out of this amazing church that left a remarkable impression on me despite the fact that I do not believe. I was impressed by the humility of the people towards Jesus, the respectful quietness, and the devotion. I was particularly impressed because I know the Christian faith, as here in Israel we all live and work together, Jews, Muslims, Christians, atheists, Buddhists, and others.
I took a long walk to Mahane Yehuda Market, where I enjoyed knafeh with ice cream before returning home.
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