Things to do in Church of the Holy Sepulchre
In the ancient heart of old Jerusalem lies one of the holiest sites in the Christian faith. For many pilgrims, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre represents the physical presence of Jesus, as it is thought to have been constructed at the site of Golgotha. The rock of Golgotha – also known as Cavalry, is believed by much of the Christian world to be the precise location of Jesus’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
A church has stood at this site since the 4th century, when Emperor Constantine dispatched his mother, Empress Helena, to the Holy Land to track down the tomb of Jesus. When her investigations unearthed a tomb and a cross, Constantine ordered a church to be built on the site.
Many changes to the fabric of the church have taken place over the years, but some of the original structure remains. More importantly, it still houses the final five stations of the cross including the site where Jesus was crucified, the rock of Cavalry where he died, and the Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre. Multiple Christian faiths - Armenian Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic, Ethiopian, Greek Orthodox and Syrian – all have an interest in the church and share its ownership and spaces of worship.
Our recommendations in Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Jerusalem tour in the footsteps of Jesus from Jerusalem
See Jerusalem in Jesus' footsteps, the via Dolorosa, the Second Temple, Mount Olives and much more.
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Jerusalem old city tour with transfer
Discover Jerusalem, the via Dolorosa, the Mount of Olives, the Dormition Church, King David's Tomb and the Old city bazar.
en, fr, es
Highlights of Jerusalem with Clash of Cultures exploration game
Explore Jaffa Gate, Hurva Synagogue and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and discover the place from which Muhammad ascended to heaven.
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3-hour walking tour of Jerusalem old city
Enjoy a 3-hour guided tour of the Old City and visit the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and much more.
en
Jerusalem tour in the footsteps of Jesus from Jerusalem
See Jerusalem in Jesus' footsteps, the via Dolorosa, the Second Temple, Mount Olives and much more.
en
Jerusalem old city tour with transfer
Discover Jerusalem, the via Dolorosa, the Mount of Olives, the Dormition Church, King David's Tomb and the Old city bazar.
en, fr, es
Highlights of Jerusalem with Clash of Cultures exploration game
Explore Jaffa Gate, Hurva Synagogue and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and discover the place from which Muhammad ascended to heaven.
en
3-hour walking tour of Jerusalem old city
Enjoy a 3-hour guided tour of the Old City and visit the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and much more.
en
Full-day private Jerusalem world heritage tour
Book a full-day private Jerusalem world heritage tour to see iconic sites of three different religions.
en
How to get there
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Jerusalem
Israel