The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the main attractions for Christian tourists visiting Jerusalem. Located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, it is believed to have been the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. In an article called The Church of the Holy Sepulchre: A Work in Progress, Raymond Cohen, a scholar of international diplomacy and religions, explores the question of who controls the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:Â
Six ancient churches are represented today at the Holy Sepulchre by communities of monks. The three major communities administering the Holy Sepulchre, the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics—represented by the Franciscan Order—and Armenian Orthodox have their own chapels and share common areas, which include the stone of unction, the edicule containing Christ’s tomb, and surrounding paving. Two minor communities, the Coptic Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox, have rights of usage, but no say in the running of the church. The tiny Ethiopian Orthodox community, living on the roof, has no rights in the Anastasis.
Photo by Dave Herring on Unsplash