A Visitors Guide to Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
Here's everything you need to know before visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, one of the most important sites for Christians in the world. We hope this travel guide will inspire you to visit the site no matter if you are a Christian or you just appreciate the architecture and history.
Ask anyone who has already been to Jerusalem what makes it to the list of the top three attractions every traveler must visit, and we believe that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will always be there.
Yes, Jerusalem, the home of this site, is full of must-see places.
Still, the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre still have a special place on everyone's itinerary, and it is for a reason.
In this travel guide, we would like to introduce more closely the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as it, because of its religious and historical significance, deserves a separate blog post.
First of all, you might be asking why just this church stands out above others when Jerusalem has hundreds of churches, not only in the Christian Quarter but also in the Armenian or Greek parts of the city.
Well, the answer is pretty simple.
We do not want to and cannot rate which church in Jerusalem is visually the most beautiful one.
But there are not many structures that can compete with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre when it comes to spirituality and the significance of religion as a whole, in this very case, Christianity.
Why is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Famous
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the final stop on Via Dolorosa, alias the Way of the Cross.
It is famous for being the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and where he consequently resurrected.
As you can see, it is easy to understand why this church is one of the holiest in the world and why so many believers feel like visiting the site at least once in a lifetime is a must.
Although that church's significance was disputed many times as it is quite usual with similar places, visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was a no-brainer for us.
When traveling, we aspire to get rid of prejudices and soak up the atmosphere, architecture, and stories with our eyes, ears, and hearts open, and this is the approach we would like to pass on to you.
So here's a travel guide on everything you need to know before visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
History of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
As we've already got used to with other religious sites in Israel, the history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was also not that straightforward.
The place, also known many centuries ago (even nowadays) as the Golgota or Calvary (it is a hill that reminds a skull, therefore, these names mean basically 'the place of the skull'), is generally accepted as a place of Jesus' death and his resurrection.
This information had been disputed many times (we even visited within Jerusalem the Garden Tomb, another site where Jesus supposedly resurrected).
On the other hand, there are also many sources with data that support this theory.
We can only recommend you (if you are interested) read as many sources as possible and make your own decision on what to believe.
And what is the brief history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
Between 7 BCE and 1 CE, the site where the church nowadays stands was very likely a quarry.
It supports the theory that the crucifixion should have happened outside the city, and the site was enclosed by a third wall some decade after Jesus's death, making it only then the part of the city.
As we've already mentioned, Jesus walked towards this place with a heavy cross over his shoulder (nowadays, the route is known as Via Dolorosa and the last five stops are inside the church), was crucified here, buried, and consequently, the place of his final rest was found empty.
In 312 CE, Constantine the Great saw the cross in the sky, he converted to Christianity and persuaded his mother to search for Jesus' tomb in Jerusalem.
She supposedly found the relics of the cross nearby the tomb, which was the reason to believe this is the real Calvary.
About 14 years later, in 326 CE, the first church was built above the tomb.
The church has changed many times throughout the centuries, it was even demolished a few times, but nowadays, it stands there in its full glory.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is important to many denominations, such as Christians, Catholics, Armenian Christians, Ethiopians, or Greek Orthodox.
Therefore, maybe a bit controversially, the keys to the church have in possession one of the oldest Muslim families in Jerusalem, which surprisingly keep the inter-religious harmony.
Where is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Located
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located within the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem's old city, very close and within walking distance from other top attractions, so it is easy to include it in your Israel itinerary.
As it is not possible to drive in the Old City of Jerusalem, your only option to get to the church is on foot.
How to Get
It really depends on the location of your accommodation or sights you plan on visiting before the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Therefore, it is hard to give you the right directions, but in order to get to the near proximity, you need to get to the Old City, and you'll do it by entering the area via a gate.
There are more gates around Jerusalem's Old City, but the closest ones you can use to get directly to the church are Jaffa Gate, New Gate, or Damascus Gate.
Once you are in the maze of streets of the Old City, you can either follow signage on houses or use a map app that will unmistakably lead you there.
What to See in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Being inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre can be quite overwhelming.
It is quite large, the interior does not have the typical layout, and it would be understandable if your first steps led to the Holy Grave straightaway.
Well, unless there is no line, go for it. But if it is (like it's very common), adjust your eyes a bit and walk around with your eyes wide open.
There's so much to see, plus almost every relic has its own story that it is not in our power to point out all of the must-see things inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Needless to say, we are by no means educated in this field to pass the knowledge on to you.
Therefore, we've handpicked only a few things you should definitely not miss, but we are pretty sure that you will discover other artifacts that will rightfully catch your attention.
Calvary
Calvary alias Golgotha is one of the most sought-after places to visit in this church; therefore, it comes without surprise that sometimes visitors need to wait in line here.
Calvary is a chapel split in two (one part is Catholic, while the other Greek-Orthodox), and it is supposedly the place of Jesus's crucifixion.
Stone of Anointing
Basically, the first thing you'll see when you enter the church is the Stone of Anointing (also known as the Stone of Unction). According to a legend, this is the place where was Jesus' body laid before the burial.
Many people pray here, and it is also a custom to anoint (therefore the name) the stone with oil and then wash it off with a cloth.
Aedicule
Aedicule is a chapel where the tomb itself is located.
The chapel again has two rooms, and in one room can be found the Angel's Stone, which was once probably a part of a bigger stone that sealed the tomb.
The Holy Sepulchre
Without any doubt, the most significant site inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the tomb itself.
Yes, this is the tomb of Jesus himself.
It is by far one of the most massive tombs we've ever seen inside a church, so prepare yourself for quite a sight that is even more spectacular because of the story behind it.
It is not unusual to wait even for an hour just to go inside the tomb, so it is only your decision whether it is worth it the wait.
Moreover, to make sure the line proceeds, there's a guardian who lets people inside the tomb for about ten seconds.
It was fine for us; although the experience was not as calm as expected, it felt a bit weird because some people did not have time to finish their prayers.
Entrance Fee
The best thing about visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? It is free!
Well, ok, this would be quite sad if this was the best thing about a holy place, but the truth is that this fact definitely helps.
We visited Israel on a budget, so it was great when we found out that basically, all the top attractions within Jerusalem are without an entrance fee.
It was pretty surprising, to be honest, we would not mind paying for having an opportunity to step inside one of the holiest places for one of the most important religions in the world.
If you want, it is for sure possible to give some symbolic (or larger, depending on you) amount of money for the maintenance of the church; boxes are usually by the entrance, but it is not compulsory.
Opening Hours
We did not exactly know when we would make it to the church during the day because our Jerusalem itinerary was quite packed.
But in that case, it did not matter that much because the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has very favorable opening hours that must suit almost all visitors.
Opening hours differ throughout the day, so you must plan your visit according to the time of the year you are visiting Israel, but even in the off-season is the church opened until the evening.
In the summer, from April till the end of August, it is possible to enter the church between 5 AM and 9 PM. In September, the church closes half an hour earlier.
In October (until the end of the summertime), the church is open between 5 AM and 8 PM.
And then from the end of October till the end of March are the opening hours a bit shorter, and you can visit the site from 4 AM till 7 PM.
On Sundays, the church closes one hour early.
There are also a bit special opening hours when it comes to significant days and holidays, so we recommend you check the current schedule in case your visit the site, for example, on Christmas Day.
The most important information is that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is opened 365 days in a year.
Is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Safe to Visit?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is generally a safe place to visit. However, it gets very crowded at peak times, so watch out for pickpockets.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
The Best Time to Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
This topic brings us to the best time to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Being one of the must-see places in Jerusalem and consequently, Israel brings many pros, such as getting an opportunity of experiencing the hard-to-describe atmosphere.
On the other hand, it can easily happen that the church's interior is packed, and it is even quite common to wait in a line even for an hour or more just to get inside the tomb.
If you want to avoid crowds (although it can be very hard, especially in the season), the best strategy is to arrive either very early in the morning (before 8 AM) or then later in the afternoon, if possible, after 6 PM.
Because of its popularity, the church is pretty busy throughout the day, but that's something you should involve in your expectations.
This is simply how it is with the most popular places, and when you prepare yourself for sharing the site with others, you should have a pleasant time.
If you are an individual traveler, the goal is probably to avoid groups that usually arrive between 10 AM and 3 PM.
Do You Need a Guide?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre hides many mysteries and small details that only an experienced and well-prepared visitor can see.
In general, as in any other church, there are many paintings, mosaics, and historical artifacts, that you could spend hours there only trying to understand them and their importance.
And then there is the tomb and other must-see attractions that are even more significant for many reasons.
So if you need a guide for visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a tricky question.
If you want to know more about the interior and all the significant artifacts, we would say, yes.
Reading from guidebooks simply cannot replace the personal knowledge you can get from a knowledgeable local guide.
On the other hand, if you are a regular traveler who prefers to wander around alone and read more only about a few things that catch your attention, you'll enjoy visiting the church even on your own.
We spent our time there individually and had an amazing, peaceful time. We needed for the church about an hour, so plan your time accordingly.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre Tour
If you decide to join the tour, check out, for example, this Jerusalem Tour that also includes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other significant sites.
What to Wear
We believe that your Jerusalem itinerary will be very likely packed and during one day, you might have on your list places holy to Muslims, Christians, Greek Orthodox, or Jews, and therefore, we recommend you wear modest cloth all the time.
Even if you decide to visit places such as Ramparts Walk or Mount of Olives.
It should probably go without saying, but from our own personal experience, we are not used to going to churches in Europe somehow overdressed.
We even remember times when we went inside churches in Prague in shorts and short-sleeved shirts, often when we wandered around the city in the summer and stepped inside without thinking about it.
We never meant to be disrespectful, but the rules in our country are simply not that strict.
We are not sure about Israel, but we felt that being in one of the holiest places in the world also deserves proper clothing.
What to Pack
That means we recommend wearing trousers with lengths at least under your knees and a t-shirt with sleeves.
You can wear short sleeves, but no tank tops.
We also had an extra t-shirt with long sleeves in our daypack just in case we would meet more strict attendants and a pair of scarfs that can be used in many different ways.
It is possible to take photos inside the church, so pack a mirrorless camera, extra batteries, and plenty of water because walking the streets of Jerusalem can be exhausting.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
