✝️ Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Palestinian quarter access)
Palestine
About This Sacred Site
While the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is counted among Israel's sites, significant portions are maintained by communities with deep Palestinian connections. The Ethiopian Orthodox monastery of Deir es-Sultan sits on the roof of the church, where Ethiopian monks have lived for centuries in small cells. The Coptic chapel behind the Edicule and the Syrian Orthodox Chapel of St. Nicodemus represent the presence of Eastern Christian communities. Palestinian Christians, descendants of some of the earliest Christian communities in the world, maintain their spiritual connection to this site through these chapels. The church's complex governance, shared among six denominations, reflects centuries of devotion from diverse communities of the Holy Land.
Key Facts
- •Ethiopian monks have maintained a monastery on the church roof for centuries
- •The Deir es-Sultan monastery on the roof is a cluster of small monks' cells
- •Six Christian denominations share governance through the centuries-old Status Quo
- •Palestinian Christians trace their lineage to the earliest Christian communities
- •The key to the church has been held by a Palestinian Muslim family since the 12th century
Location
Coordinates: 31.7785, 35.2298
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