Holy Sepulchre
01-NOV-2008
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We are now on top of Golgotha also called the hill of Calvary. The area is packed, dark and covered with every kind of decorations you can think of. It is not a scene you would see in your typical American Christian Church. I am waiting to get to the altar that sits on top of the square hole that Jesus cross was placed in. The hole is about two feet deep and craved into solid rock.
01-NOV-2008
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This mural is just to the left of the altar that covers the hole that Jesus cross was pegged into. Lots of very packed people in this place.
01-NOV-2008
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Some of the ornaments and candles that hang above the altar. Very eastern orthodox in style.
01-NOV-2008
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This is a view of the plate that covers the hole. You can see the altar above it.
01-NOV-2008
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Why we are all up here, to put our hand in the hole.
01-NOV-2008
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The altar above the cross hole.
01-NOV-2008
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One of our group putting her hand in the hole. I had just done the same thing. For me, it was like being baptized. I had the very strange and wonderful experience of having my hand float out of the hole. It felt very light and just seem to float upward. No one else seemed to have this experience. I did.
01-NOV-2008
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Some of the incense burners in the area near the Golgotha altar.
01-NOV-2008
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The ornaments above the front entrance to the Holy Sepulchre.
01-NOV-2008
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This is the front of the Holy Sepulchre. There are different groups that control entry to the Holy Sepulchre. Here we see one of the orthodox priests speaking with someone at the front of the line. The agreements that govern which groups runs this entry are centuries old. A week after I took this photograph there was a fight that broke out between two of the Christian groups involved in the governance of the Holy Sepulchre. The fight misses the point about Christianity. I almost saw a fight break out a few minutes before this picture was taken. The tension and dark character of the lighting make for a very bizarre atmosphere. The atmosphere reminded me of a Federico Fellini movie. I could hardly believe it. This is an interesting place to say the least.
01-NOV-2008
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A priest calling for the next four people to enter the Holy Sepulchre. The Holy Sepulchre is so small only four people can enter the small room that holds the last two known pieces of the tomb of Jesus.
01-NOV-2008
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Incense burners above the Stone of the Anointing. The stone is a few feet from the church front door.
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