An AP reporter spends the night locked inside Jerusalem's holiest church with clergy and pilgrims
About a dozen priests and registered pilgrims keep vigil through the night as the basilica’s shared rites continue and tourism remains far below prewar levels.
- Each night, a small group of priests and pilgrims worship alone in the silent, dark Church of the Holy Sepulcher after it closes to the public. Nocturnal services continue until dawn, when doors reopen with the same ceremonial ritual.
- A representative from a Muslim family, entrusted with the basilica's keys since the 13th century, secures the doors each night. This unique arrangement reflects Jerusalem's Old City's complex history under changing regional powers.
- Franciscans have worshipped at the Blessed Sacrament for 700 years, now sharing space with Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Coptic clergy. Each tradition performs distinctive rites in rotation, marking a peaceful period replacing centuries of violent disputes.
- The Israel-Hamas war has decimated tourism and prevented hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from attending services at the basilica. Despite sharply reduced visitor numbers, resident clergy continue their daily prayers and monastic duties within the sacred space.
- Built over sites where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, the basilica offers the faithful an almost tangible representation of their faith's central tenet. This enduring spiritual significance ensures the space remains vital for pilgrims worldwide.
40 Articles
40 Articles
Spending the night locked inside Jerusalem’s holiest church with clergy and pilgrims
The enormous doors were pushed shut, the clanking bolts secured from the outside and several clergy, pilgrims and one journalist - me - were locked for the night inside one of Christianity's holiest sites in Jerusalem.
Reporter spends the night locked inside Jerusalem’s holiest church with clergy and pilgrims
JERUSALEM — The enormous doors were pushed shut, the clanking bolts secured from the outside and several clergy, pilgrims and one journalist — me — were locked for the night inside one of Christianity’s holiest sites in Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built over the spots where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. Through many centuries, as Muslim rulers governed this region and changing politics…
St Catharines Standard
The Seattle TimesAn AP reporter spends the night locked inside Jerusalem’s holiest church with clergy and pilgrims
JERUSALEM (AP) — The enormous doors were pushed shut, the clanking bolts secured from the outside and several clergy, pilgrims and one journalist — me — were locked for the night inside one of Christianity's holiest sites in Jerusalem.
Associated Press News
An AP reporter spends the night locked inside Jerusalem's holiest church with clergy and pilgrims
Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built over the very spots where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead.
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- 56% of the sources are Center
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