Jerusalem (Old city) - Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Anastasis)

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Jerusalem (Old city)

Church name:

Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Anastasis)

Functional Type:

Memorial

Church type:

Concentric - Circular

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

221.90

631.79

Coordinates, ICS system:

171.90

1,131.79

Location:

Urban

Geographical region:

Jerusalem (Old City)

Topographical location:

The rock of the hill surronding the Sepulchre was leveled to isolate it.

Distance from nearest settlement:

Inside the settlement.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Source of knowledge

Show HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Daily liturgy at the Anastasis, from an itinerary of AD 381-384.
2	Sunday service at the Anastasis.
3	Epiphany at the Anastasis.
4	Easter season at the Anastasis.
5	Ordinary time at the Anastasis.
6	Teachings regarding the baptism at the Anastasis.
7	Encaenia in the Anastasis.
8	Mention of the tomb of the Resurrection, from an itinerary of AD 385-386, composed 404.
9	Mention of Cyriacus, priest and abbot of the church of the Holy Resurrection and a Warden of the Cross, AD 490.
10	Mention of Marcianus, priest at the holy Resurrection and abbot of holy Sion, ca. AD 510.
11	Description of the Holy Anastasis and of the various relics kept in it, from a pilgrim's guide to Jerusalem from the beginning of the 6th cent.
12	Mention of the tomb of the Lord "beneath a roof", from an itinerary of ca. AD 518-530.
13	Anecdote on the removal of the stone of the Cathisma by order of Grand Chamberlain Urbicius, now an altar behind the Lord's Tomb.
14	The Feast of the Cross at the tomb of the Lord.
15	Description of the Lord's tomb, from an itinerary of ca. AD 570.
16	Detailed description of the rounded church built over the Lord's tomb, from an itinerary of ca. AD 681-684, composed ca. 698.
17	Description of the Anastasis church, largely based on Adamnan, from a geographical work compiled AD 702-703.
18	Mention of the tomb of the Lord in the middle of the Holy City, from an 8th cent. guidebook for pilgrims.
19	Inventory of the clergy and monks employed in the complex of the Holy Sepulchre, from an official report ordered in AD 808.
20	Measurements of the different parts of the complex.

Show HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Psalm quotation in plaster on the wall of St. Helena’s cistern of the Latins.
2	Marble sculpture of a lion with inscribed letters, found during the demolition of the old cupola.
3	Greek stamps on bricks and tiles.
4	Three fragments of a marble plaque bearing an imperial rescript of Justinian I.
5	Four re-used capitals with monograms on top of two heart-shaped columns from the east side of the rotunda, between 586 and 602.

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Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Harvey W.	1933-1934
Corbo V.	1961, 1963
The Armenians	1966

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

This is the western, circular component of the Holy Sepulchre complex, holding the tomb itsel; the western component was basilical - the Martyrium of Constantine, addressed in a separate Church Card. The church has been in use successively, with modification and repairs, from it's construction.

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Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Madaba map

Reconstruction of the plan of the Holy Sepulchre at the end of forth century. From: Coüasnon 1974: Pl. VIII.

Reconstruction of the church of the Holy Sepulchre. From: Coüasnon 1974: Pl. XVII.

The plan of the remains from the early byzantine period. From: Zeligman, Avni 2001: p. 122.

Reconstruction of the plan of the Byzantine church complex. From: Gibson, Taylor 1994: Fig. 45.

Ground plan of the Holy Sepulchre after the 11th century restoration of Constantine Monomachus. From: Patrich 1993: 114.

Plan of the Holy Sepulchre at the level of the galleries folowwing the 11th century restoration of Constantine Monomachus. From: Corbo 1981-1982: Pl. 5.

Plans of the Edicule. From: Biddle 1999: Fig. 9.

The structural development of the Holy Sepulchre. From: Biddle 1999: Fig. 63.

The creation of Constantine's Edicule. From: Biddle 1999: Fig. 64.

Reconstruction (A) of the form of the rock-cut tomb within the Edicule and (B) of its conversion by the construction of Constantine's Edicule. From: Biddle 1999: Fig. 79.

The preliminary court round the cave. From: Wilkinson 1981: p. 41.

Northern apse of the Anastasis, Angeloni 2019

The northern transept looking north, Angeloni_2019

Façade and entries:

The entrance was from the inner courtyard (Triportico) in the west. A large main entrance in the centre, leading into the inner circle; and four smaller entrances on each side. West of the entrance a small wall fragment was found, Corbo mentions it in its plan, yet Couasnon uses that fragment to reconstruct a colonnade in front of the entrance from the courtyard.

External Walls (for a concentric church):

The original enclosing wall, built on the rock, survived to the height of 11 m., and is 1.2 m. thick. The eastern wall is circular on the inside and polygonal on the outside. The upper part of the wall, which is rounded on the outside of the wall, was built in the 11th century. Several courses of brick separate the the original and reconstructed part, as if by design. Windows, 2.1 m. wide, are cut in the wall, three in each section between apses (same occurs in the apses). evidence of marble facing can be seen in the bottom part of the walls.

Central space:

The sepulchre is located to the west of the center point of the inner circle, at the junction of the axes of the apses. The inner circle is from the ambulatory by twelve pillars in groups of three, which are seperated by two piers on the north, south and east. The west part of the inner circle is the main entrance from the Triportico. A wall section going north was found attched to the western pier of the southern pair. Corbo believes that is part cancellus described by Egeria.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

The enclosing wall had three apses, to the north, south and west. The western apse is semi-circular and protouding out of the structure. Built against the rock of the leveled hill. the northern and southern apses are built into square projections. Three windows are cut into each apse, 1.4 m. wide (same in the walls between the apses). evidence of marble facing can be seen in the bottom of the apses, and of wall mosaics in the semi domees which covered them.

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Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	A fragment of a grey-veined marble column was found during the excavation. After interprating the inscription Pierri and Ovadia (2006) believ it to be a 3rd century column that origialy stood in Caesarea and was placed in the church in secondary use not earlier than the 11th century. For other inscriptions see under Epigraphy.

Detailed description

Hide Structure

Orientation:

Fasing west

Materials applied (roofing):

timber

Colonnades / Arcades:

Colonnade

Number of inner space columns (for a concentric church):

Total	Extant
12

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Burials loci:

The tomb is located west of the center of the inner circle, inside a round plaza, 3.5 m. in diemeter, suronned by a ring wall. According to the Pilgrim from Placentia (570 C.E) and Arcluf (679-688 C. E.) the tomb was hewn from one stone block.

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Loci:

A tri-partite large baptistery is attached to the Anastasis on the south.

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Galleries description:

There is a disagreement betwenn Corbo and Cousnon on the existence of a gallery prior to the 11th century. The disagreement arises from two columns, about 3.5 m. high, that originally formed one coluמm and are located around the inner circle today. Causon believes that this is a column from the fourth century that was cut in the restoration of the 11th century. Corbo believes the column belonged to a previous pegan temple and was cut prior to the 4th century. Cousnon believe is supported by the outer wall of the hall which survived to the higeht of 11 m. and has no evidence to a second floor. The gallery was open to the center with haevy piers above the piers of the lower level; and groups of two columns and a smaller pier above the columns of the lower level.

Architectural Evolution

General outline:

Couasnon maintains that originally the Sepulchre was built as a relatively simple mausoleum in an open courtyard. 15x15 m., surrounded by columns. Later the courtyard turned into an enclosed building, as addressed by Egeria (381-384). Corbo maintains that the tomb was enclosed from the beginning.

Dating material:

The complex was built by order of Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena; it was inaugurated on Sept. 13, 335.

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Century:

4th c.

Within century:

First half

General outline:

It appears that most of the repair work consisted of reinforcing the structure and replacing the burnt wood roofs. Arcluf (647-688 C.E.) mentions that the main entrance was blocked, and the existences of altars in each apse. An apse was built in the east. The Martyrion was likewise repaired and continued to exist until the early 11t c.

Dating material:

Based on historical resources the church was destroyed during the Persian conquest and rebuilt prior to the Arculf's description, dated between 679-688.

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Century:

7th c.

Within century:

First half

General outline:

The gallery as it known today was built. An entryway to the gallery was opened above the western apse and was directly connected to the street. The Sepulchre was damaged and was no longer a monolith but a structure whose upper part was built. The Martyrion was destroyed. Three chapels were built to the west of the triportico in the restoration of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus.

Dating material:

The entire comples was dameged in 1009 by the Fatimis cahliph. The Anatasis and the golgotha were restored, the Basilica was not. The restoration began in 1030 and were completed by 1048.

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Century:

11th c.

Within century:

First half

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

In continuous use