Restoration work began in 1961 and archaeological trenches were opened
in various points of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Thanks to these we can
ascertain that the area around the Garden of Golgotha served as a quarry between
the eight and the first century BC.
Archaeological research confirming the presence of the quarry
This quarry of malachite stone was
confirmed by the extensive signs of tool cuts in the rock unearthed all over
the area. It extended from today's Christian Road (Haret en-Nasara) to Khan
ez-Zeit over an area which later on was to find itself between the two main
roads constructed by Emperor Hadrian for his Aelia Capitolina. The cutting
tools signs are also visible in the area of Chapel of the Finding of the Holy
Cross.
Quarry signs in the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross
Other quarry signs found during the excavations next to the Aedicula
This large east-west quarry, which supplied building stone for the
ancient city, was abandoned in the first century BC. The resulting excavated area of
the quarry was transformed into a garden, becoming a well protected area outside
the city walls of Jerusalem. Various tombs were dug in the high walls surrounding the Garden of
Golgotha . Amongst these is the "kokhim" tomb popularly
known as the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.
The Kokhim tomb known as the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea
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Archaeological evidence shows that the tomb of Jesus had been dug out in an
isolated spur of the quarry. In this spur the proprietor (Joseph of Arimathea
at the time of the Crucifixion) had started the preparation of a family tomb. This new tomb
facing east had a low door (one had to almost kneel down to get through the
passage). It was closed by a big slab. On entering the low opening one found
himself in a vestibule leading into the funerary chamber. Here only one
funerary bench had been hewn in the northern wall of the funerary chapel (on
the right hand, as one enters the tomb). It is probable that Joseph of Arimathea had intended to finish his family tomb by digging two other funerary benches in
the western and southern walls but the events of the Holy Week completely changed his plans. It is in this funerary chapel and on this funerary bench
that the dead body of Our Lord was laid. And it is from this tomb and from
behind this "big stone" that his victory over death was proclaimed through His
Resurrection. Today the tomb is completely covered by marble slabs (see
further on).
The Tomb of Our Lord
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another medium sized image (42k) - large image (143k) - detail (large) (236k)
This Garden of Golgotha remained outside the city walls of Jerusalem until the
building of the third perimeter wall, which was completed by Agrippa I (41-44 AD), enclosing the Garden of Golgotha within the city walls. Those years and the
following ones were years of turmoil due mainly to the arrogance and
incompetence of the Roman Procurators appointed to govern the territory. The
Jewish people yearned for freedom from the yoke of Rome. During this time
the Mother Church of Jerusalem, having its seat on Sion, visited the site of
the Garden of Golgotha and there celebrated the "Memory" of the great events of
the Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord.
Due to the
internal turmoil in the city, just prior to the first Jewish Revolt (66 AD) the
members of the Mother Church fled the city to the town of Pella of the
Decapolis, situated across the river in the northern part of the Jordan Valley.
The First Jewish Revolt ended in a blood bath and the destruction by the Roman
Army of the magnificent Temple of Jerusalem. In its aftermath, the
Judeo-Christians returned to the city to join the Gentile-Christians of the
Mother Church who had remained stationed on Sion. But the situation in the city remained uncertain and very tense. The city was now guarded by the Xth
Legion, which put out the fire of revolt again in 116 AD and the final outbreak of
violence in 133 AD. This last outbreak is known as the Second Jewish Revolt
led by Simon Bar Kokhiba. These events also led to drastic changes in the architectural layout of the city.
The stairs leading down to the Chapel of St. Helena
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The Chapel of Saint Helena
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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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