Al Meseeh Qam! Haqqan Qam! (Arabic) “…and his tomb is with us to this day.” (Acts 2:29)

Al Meseeh Qam! Haqqan Qam! (Arabic)

“…and his tomb is with us to this day.” (Acts 2:29)

Just as David’s tomb was revered by the Jews, so is Jesus’ tomb by all Christians; in fact, there is an Orthodox Church built directly over this very site: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – built in 330 AD by the Emperor Constantine’s mother, St. Helen. The original Byzantine style structure was destroyed by the Persians in 6143 AD. When it was rebuilt, the Egyptian caliph al-Hakim had it dismantled and “hacked-down to the bedrock” in 1009. Soon afterwards the Crusaders rebuilt the church and much of what is standing today is from that period. Inside the church is a rocky out-cropping which by tradition is the location of where the Crucifixion took place and also the spot of the tomb where Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus placed the Body of Christ as the Sabbath sun was quickly setting. Although this temple is controlled by the Orthodox Church, all pilgrims are welcome to enter and venerate this most sacred of all Christian shrines.

Fr. John Memorich

Al Meseeh Qam! Haqqan Qam! (Arabic)