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Questions about Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built under Constantine the Great in the fourth century and consecrated on the 13th of September 335. It was designed by the architect Zenobius as two separate structures over the sites of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus.

Who destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 1009?

Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah ordered the complete destruction of the church on the 18th of October 1009, as part of a broader campaign against Christian and Jewish places of worship in Palestine and Egypt. The tomb was almost entirely destroyed, with only portions of the northern and southern walls surviving.

Who holds the key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

Saladin entrusted the Joudeh family with the iron key to the church in 1187, a key some 30 centimetres long. Door-keeping responsibilities were given to the Muslim Nusaybah family as a neutral party, an arrangement that has continued for over 800 years.

What is the Status Quo at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

The Status Quo is an arrangement governing shared control of the church, rooted in an Ottoman decree of 1757 and formalized by Sultan Abdulmecid I in 1852-53. It assigns property rights and custodial roles among the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox churches, requiring consensus for even minor changes.

When was the Aedicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre last restored?

The Aedicule was restored between May 2016 and March 2017 at a cost of approximately 4 million dollars. On the 26th of October 2016, the marble cladding over the burial bed was removed for the first time since at least 1555, and the original limestone burial bed was confirmed intact by the night of the 28th of October.

Which denominations share control of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

The primary custodians are the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic churches. The Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox churches hold lesser responsibilities for shrines and structures in and around the building. No single denomination controls the main entrance.