Rows of huge candles line the walk leading to the door of the stone monument called an Edicule (“little house”). Inside is one of the holiest places in Christianity, the Tomb of Christ, where Jesus lay buried for three days, and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning. It's the 14th and last, "Station of the Cross".


STATION XIV - THE TOMB
Around the corner from the "Unction Stone" or "Anointing Stone", is the place the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is named for! This is the sepulchre (tomb) of Christ!

 
The tomb is in the middle of the large church building, in the center of the rotunda, right under it's large dome .

 
The tomb of Jesus has a stone building (shrine), called an Edicule (“little house”), built over it. Made of limestone and marble, it encloses the tomb where it is believed Jesus lay buried for three days, then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning.

 
Inside the door there are two rooms. The first contains a fragment of the stone (under glass) believed to have sealed Jesus’ tomb. The second room is the tomb itself.

 
Only 5 people are allowed in the tomb at one time. (That is as many as there is room for.) Even then, only one or two at a time can approach the slab of rock where He lay. The others stand behind them against the wall and wait for the kneelers to finish. A priest controls the flow in the tomb. He allows 5 minutes for the group of 5, so about 1 minute per person to kneel at the rock. There are no signs or talking inside. These things you learn before entering .

 
The 1st time I went to the Edicule, lines of tour groups, waiting to enter the tomb, stretched around the rotunda for as far as my old eyes could see! So, I came up with a brilliant plan that couldn't fail! I would come early another day, ahead of the tour groups!

 
So, I returned before daylight one day. I read the church opened at 4 a.m. So, I set my alarm. Quietly showered and dressed, then eased out of the room and down the dim hallways. Even though I eased the interior door open, I woke the sleeping receptionist, which turned out okay, since he had to unlock the front door for me to get out, anyway.

 
The walk around and through the old city in the pre-dawn hours was great. So, I was there soon after to visit Stations 10-14. It was so quiet and peaceful at every station! I could take as much time as I wanted at all the places. I visited all the first 3 stations and wandered around the silent, dimly lit rotunda, mostly alone, heading for the tomb!

 
As I rounded the last of the rotunda, I could see the tomb entrance . AND NO LINES! I would be able to walk right in and visit in solitude at my own pace while the hordes of pilgrims still slept! Sometimes my ingenuity amazes even me!

 
I pulled on the door leading to the tomb and it didn't budge!Apparently, the 4 a.m. means the "church" doors are open. Open hours are up to each religious group about the chapel or area they control. There is not a sign giving times the tomb is open. 

 
Many of the chapels and other places were open. I saw a few people in each chapel as I wandered around the rotunda. They were mostly nuns and priests. They probably were the caretakers. So, it was a great decision to come at this early hour to visit the other stations . . . but not the tomb. I would have to return later and humbly join the far-reaching lines of tour groups!

 
When I was in Israel, the Edicule (shrine) over the tomb was being repaired and was all covered with temporary construction walls and scaffolds . Only the front entry doors were left uncovered, so visitors could enter the tomb.

 
The Israeli police briefly shut down the Edicule after Israel’s Antiquities Authority deemed it unsafe in 2015. The shrine needed urgent attention after years of environmental wear from water, humidity and candle smoke. Enough donations were received to allow the renovations to begin in 2016. 

 
So, I was not able to see the Edicule itself while I was there, but got to see the tomb inside the Edicule, which is the main sight anyway!

 
(Note: I am writing these entries long after leaving the Middle East. I see in the news the repairs were completed in March 2017. I included photos of the repaired Edicule in the photos).
During the renovations they cut a hole in the marble wall surrounding the tomb, so now you can see and even touch the actual rock wall of the tomb! Also they removed the ,arble slab and dug down to find the burial slab .
 
 
THE GARDEN TOMB
When I first arrived in Jerusalem, I stayed in an Arab hotel, surrounded on every side by busy, noisy street sellers. On the back side of this busy Muslim neighborhood was a small street mainly used for deliveries. And there, in the midst of all the Muslim activity was a sign "Garden Tomb", pointing down a narrow alley!

 
At first I thought it was a second place claiming to be the site of Christ’s burial. And, there are some, mostly Protestants, but not all, that seem to prefer this as the burial tomb. But, from what I know, the owners (private spot supported by donations) don't claim this is the burial tomb of Jesus. But, it does have a tomb from the era of Christ, in a garden setting, with a hill that could be Golgotha nearby. 

 
This is a lovely place and it looks like what I always picture the tomb looking like. The tomb is surrounded by a peaceful garden, not covered with a building like the Holy Sepulcher tomb . 

 
The open tomb, excavated in 1867, is carved into a rock face. There is a skull-like erosion in a limestone cliff nearby resembling what we think of when we think of "Golgotha". ( “The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha." John 19:17).

 
You can roam around the garden at your leisure and enter the tomb, with a stone in front used to seal the doorway. You can enter at your own timing and stay as long as you like. There are no priests here keeping time, and no tour group lines!

 
I enjoyed the beauty and peace of this place. And, though most agree the Holy Sepulchre Tomb is the place Jesus was buried and rose from, this tomb from that era is really a good chance to see what the area at Christs' tomb probably looked like without all the present day buildings!

 
SCRIPTURES:
The burial of Jesus: Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42
 
The Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10
 

 NEXT:  "The Ascension From The Mt . of Olives"