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The Holy Sepulchre Church
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Housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection, the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre has always been one of Christianity's most sacred sites. A chapel marks the spot where pilgrims recall that
Jesus was disrobed (John 19:23); a nearby altar gives pilgrims a place to remember the horror of where He was nailed to the cross. An ornate shrine stands above the rock on which many believe
Jesus was crucified [Matthew 27:50-51].
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After he was lowered from the cross the body of
Jesus was prepared according to Jewish custom and buried in a tomb that had been prepared for a wealthy Jew, who offered it for
Jesus. " As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of
Jesus. |
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The best piece of evidence that the tomb of
Jesus was in this area is the fact that other first-century tombs are still preserved inside the church. Called the "Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea," these burial shafts (kokhim) are clearly from the time of
Christ's death and thus attest to some kind of burial ground in the area. Combined with the evidence from tradition, this church is most likely the true location of the
Christ's death and burial.
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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses
Christian sects of all varieties and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times though the centuries. Because it is crowded and noisy in the church, it is hard to imagine what the area was like in the time of
Jesus. Yet 2,000 years ago both Calvary and the burial grounds were well outside the city walls according to many archeologists.
By now you got over your initial amazement and you want to know more, you
desire to understand this site and how it ended up the way it is today. But
above all you want to feel the inner warmth it instills in those who with
faith read the Gospels and realize they are the fulfillment of God's love
for humanity. |
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