Saturday 22 October 2011

The Tomb of Jesus and the Resurrection, Church of the Holy Selpuchre

Last travel article (13) related to the important historical places in the “Life of Jesus”.

In the heart of the Church of the Holy Selpuchre, you find the tomb of Jesus. This is the 14th and last station of the Via Dolorosa. The tomb itself is located in the centre of the church and underneath an amazing dome with sun light coming through a hole in the ceiling. Around the tomb they built a chapel which is managed by Greek Orthodox and Armenians Priests. The cues to enter are very long and even here in the holiest place of Christianity, the Priests are trying to sell articles and have turned this into a commercial activity. Even inside the chapel, two feet away from were Jesus had his resting place. When Jesus visited the Temple of David, he found that commercial activities together with religion were inappropriate. It is a pity that these Priests don't respect this. Above his last resting place, there is a painting of the Resurrection. Inside the chapel we were not allowed to take pictures. Will Jesus also be the Messiah of the Jews and Muslims? Will he return via the Golden Gate to the Temple Mount? Maybe time will tell.

In het hart van de Kerk van het Heilige Graf, vind je de laatste rustplaats van Jezus. Dit is het laatste en 14de station van de Via Dolorosa. Het graf zelf is gelegen in het midden van de kerk onder een ongelooflijk mooie koepel waardoor het zonlicht via een opening naar binnen schijnt. Rond het graf hebben ze een kapel gebouwd die wordt beheerd door Griek Orthodoxe en Armeense priesters. De wachtrijen om hier binnen te gaan zijn zeer lang en zelfs op de meest heilige plaats voor de Christenen tracht men zaken te doen. Binnen in de kapel worden er op minder dan 1 meter van het graf diensten verkocht door priesters. Wanneer Jezus de Tempel van David bezocht vond hij dat commerciële activiteiten in een religieuze plaats niet gepast waren. Het is zeer spijtig dat deze priesters hier geen respect voor tonen. Boven zijn laatste rustplaats hangt je een schilderij van de Verrijzenis. In de kapel kregen we echter geen toelating foto's te maken. Zal Jezus ook de Messias zijn van de Joden en de Moslims? Zal hij nog eens terug komen via de vallei langs de Olijfberg, naar de Gouden Poort op weg naar de Tempelberg? De tijd brengt misschien een antwoord..

Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Tomb of Jesus Jerusalem
Our travel articles related to the important historical places in the “Life of Jesus”:
1. The Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth
2. The House and carpentry of Joseph in Nazareth underneath the Saint Joseph church
3. Grotto of the Nativity - Why Bethlehem instead of Nazareth? The flight to Egypt.
4. Capernaum in Galilee, the Town of Jesus.
5. Baptismal site in the Jordan River where John baptised Jesus.
6. Sermon on the mount, our visit to Mount of Beatitudes.
7. Tabgha, the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.
8. The Mount of Olives, one of the must important places for Jesus and the Jews.
9. The Basilica of the Agony, the evening before the arrest of Jesus.
10. An emotional visit on the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried the cross.
11. Touching the rock on which Jesus died, the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
12. The Stone of Unction in the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
13. The Tomb of Jesus and the Resurrection, Church of the Holy Selpuchre.

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8 comments:

  1. Disappointing it has been turned into a commercial activity. I love your first and third photos with the light streaming through the hole in the dome.

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  2. Dag Filip

    Een mooie reis met fraaie opnames....jullie hebben veel prachtige plekken bezocht,
    dank dat ik er even van mee mag genieten.

    groeten en een fijn weekend gewenst, Joop

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  3. It's really crowded.... it must be a great thing tosee for so many folks...

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  4. I imagine that was a wonderful visit, in spite of the commercialness. Love seeing the photos.

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  5. People come to see.

    People come to realise....

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  6. Very meaningful... Good to know these thingsand thephotos help a lot...

    with the imagination and going back through timeimagining what happened there before.

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  7. It is a very significant church, it is supposedly the tomb of JC,I dont believe much in religion, but it is nice to read this.

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  8. Amazing to think of the crowded area here... a world wide "attraction" for so many, this holy spot. So sad to see such commercialization. Almost feel as if I have visited here now.

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