- JERUSALEM
The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre
A period of Glory (335-614 AD)
"Send in us, Lord, the power of your Holy Cross to protect us always"
(Armenian Liturgy)
The mother Church of Jerusalem looked upon this site with great respect
and love. It was here that it gathered to celebrate the Mystery of Salvation.
It was here that it gathered to reflect on the great love of God for humanity.
Witness to this love and respect towards this site are abundant in the diaries
and writings of the pilgrims who visited the site during this time. Cyril,
bishop of Jerusalem, in one of his homilies in front of the tomb, affirms that
the antechamber of the tomb had been removed to give way to the new structures
by the Byzantine architects. He also affirms that the large stone which closed
the tomb was still preserved near the tomb itself. The anonymous pilgrim of
Piacenza describes, in 570 AD, the lavish gems, gold and silver items attached
to the tomb stone. He also affirms that the whole exterior of the tomb was
"covered with silver" and that an altar stood in front of the tomb.
A Christian mosaicist of the VI century, in the town of Madaba(Jordan),
reproduced the city of Jerusalem of his time which he placed at the centre of
his floor Map comprising the territories from Lebanon to Egypt. The city of
Jerusalem dominates this mosaic, known as the Madaba Map (discovered in 1896/7)
and the Constantine building of the Holy Sepulchre is the central building of
the walled city.
Jerusalem as represented in the Madaba Mosaic Map
.
(note the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the centre of the vignette)
Text prepared by John Abela ofm based on articles and research
by Virgilio Corbo ofm, Michele
Piccirillo ofm and Eugenio Alliata ofm
Hi-Res pictures prepared by Michael Olteanu
Other pictures prepared by John Abela ofm and Michael Olteanu
B&W pictures courtesy of SBF-Jerusalem Archives
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© created and maintained by
John Abela ofm (Malta) and Michael Olteanu (USA)
Updated Sunday, March 23, 1997
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