Hoorah for Israel!: The Holy Sepulcher

On Sunday (our Saturday) I went on an orientation walk throughout the city. As soon as I got back to the center a big group of us went out again, because we weren't allowed to take cameras the first time, simply because we weren't making any stops, it was just a quick tour to see how to get everywhere. So here are some pictures of the outing that I took with friends. By the way, I now know the meaning of walking uphill both ways (literally) but it's just about a 20 minute walk to get where you want to go.

Just another picture looking out from the JC

A small (French) chapel; so everyone asked me to translate the sign. I've already had a few chances to use my French.

Walking through the Old City

Inside the Holy Sepulcher: people from all over the world come here and when first entering you can watch dozens of people literally bathing this stone (on the ground - not in the picture) in their tears.

The Holy Sepulcher is, according to several catholic and christian religions, where Christ was crucified, where he was laid in a tomb and where he was resurrected. All of the different religions fight over who has rights to it though. Thus a Muslim family keeps the keys to the Cathedral. There is even a ladder still sitting on the ledge outside, because a man from one church was cleaning the windows and some priests from another church got angry and the man was forced to come down. Ever since then no one has been able to decide who has the right to climb up and take down the ladder!

I loved the lamps/decorations/burning incense that was hung around the church.

Me :)

More lamps (this is down below where Christ was supposedly crucified)

Another ritual people from all over the world would do. They probably lay their head down and pray? There was a stone inside - not quite sure what it was supposed to be...maybe the stone rolled away from the tomb.