The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, is what the Christians view as the most Holy building, and is located in what they view as one of the most Holy cities. Within it lies the Tomb of Christ, and on the land it is built is where Jesus Christ himself was crucified. Thus, Christians across the whole world have done pilgrimages to the city, as well as the church. Built by Emperor Constantine the Great, who also ordered the building of another great Christian site, the sepulcher originated as a small little rocky rise, and was turned into a huge temple, with many altars and other places of worship. The primary custodians, of Catholic, Greek, and Armenian faith, hold the main responsibilities of the church, while other Christians do the more minor ones. The Church is the main reason, or perhaps pretext, to capture and hold Jerusalem for the Crusaders, and it would strike a deadly blow to Christian faith if this site was destroyed…
聖墓教堂所在地原是哈德良時期修建的一座阿芙羅狄蒂神廟。君士坦丁大帝皈依基督教後,曾派其母親海倫娜前往巴勒斯坦查訪聖跡。據稱海倫娜除發現耶穌受難的十字架外,還將此地確認為耶穌受難地。從公元四世紀起,聖墓教堂就是基督教徒朝聖的重要去處。 |