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OfthemanyholyandsacredspacesfoundinJerusalem,theChurchoftheHolySepulcherstands
asmonumenttothechangeinthefundamentalChristiandoctrineandbelief.Thearchitectureof
theChurchoftheHolySepulcherembodiesthechangeinhowChristiansviewedsacredspace,
showingtheirrathernewfoundinterestinestablishingChristiansacredspace.Theshiftfrom
emphasizingtheselforindividualformsofsacredpracticetoaspecificplaceshapedthe
Christianbeliefstoitscore.
Initially,Christianshadthoughtthemselvestohaveapietythatrequirednoplace,butrather
aboutworshippingthroughtheself.Holyplaceswerenotconsideredtobeaconceptforearly
Christians.AspiritualreligionlikeChristianityhadnoroomforholyplaces(Markus1994:
259).ItwasnotuntilConstantineandhisbuildingprojectsthattheprocessforsacralizationof
theholyplacescouldbegin.Ritualprocessionsthenbegantorevolvearoundthese
monuments,inparticulartheChurchoftheHolySepulcher.Thisinturnhelpsbringthe
narrativesofbiblicaleventsintocloserelationswiththephysicalspace(Markus1994:265).This
givesusanunderstandingofhowitisthatsomethingphysicalliketheChurchoftheHoly
SepulchercanchangeChristianbeliefsandviews.
ThereisthecircumstanceoftraditionswhichChristianityborrowedfromJudaism,while
developingitsown,thatshowtheirinterestincreatingChristiansacredspace.Therewasaneed
toborrowmythsfromJudaismtohelpestablishtheChristiansacredspace.Itwasdeemedrather
importantthatthelandinwheretheHolySepulcherwastobebuilthadpreviousaffiliationswith
sacredevents.ThereforethereisanemphasistolegitimizethespaceinwhichtheHoly
Sepulcherisconstructed.TheChurchoftheHolySepulcherwasbuiltsothatitcouldbetiedto
theburialofAdam.TherewasalsotheshiftingofthebindingofIsaacsothattheChurchcould

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haveconnectionstothataswell.BeforethistheimportancelayontheteachingsofJesus,buta
symboliccenterwheredivinitytoucheshumanityinauniquewayiscreated.Andsoweseethat
JesuscanbeinterpretedasthenewAdamwhoredeemedthesinofAdamthroughhissignificant
sacrificewhilealsodevelopingaprofoundtheologyofwhatisJesus,humanordivine?This
beginsthenewdevelopmentofChristiantraditions.
ThenewChristiantraditionsestablishedhowandwhytheChurchoftheHolySepulcherwill
cometobeconstructed.ThenewtraditionsarebasedheavilyaroundhowJesusisconsidered,
eitherhumanordivine.ItwasratherimportantfortheprocesstoconsiderJesusasahuman,
becauseoftheosisandtheroleitwillplay.Theosisreferstotheprocessofreachingcommunion
withGodandallowshumanstopartakeinconsumingdivinity.AparallelwasdrawntoJesusas
theconduitthroughwhichcommunionwithGodwasagainmadepossible.Thisledtothe
ChristianshavingtorecognizephysicalJerusalemasimportantandwouldleadtodevelopa
constructwhichwouldactasaconduittoGod,knownastheChurchoftheHolySepulcher.It
wasthespaceofJerusalemwhichboretestimonytoJesusincarnationandmustthereforebe
heldassacredspacethatisfundamentaltoChristianbelief.TheimportantbeliefthatJesuswas
humanisneededinorderforhumanitytoberedeemedifitssocrucialforChristiansthenits
alsoimportantthatphysicalJerusalembepartofChristianpractice.
InfurtherdevelopingChristiantraditiontherearereactionstoJudaismwhichplayarolein
constructingtheChurch.Thefirstcouldbethepracticesandritualstakingplacewithinthe
Churchitself.Therewouldbesomesimilaritiesinstructureorform,butitwouldbesignificantly
differentintermsofwhatwasseen.Consideringthatsuchpracticesalreadybeganrevolving
aroundJesus,thereisalsotherejectionofJudaictraditionswhichwouldnodoubtbereflected

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withintheconductoftheChurch(Armstrong1996:212225).Moreprominentreactionswillbe
seeninthephysicalconstructoftheChurchthroughitsarchitectureart,suchasgrandiosely
displayingJesusandhisapostlesonthedome.TheneedtoconvertotherstoChristianityalso
developedtheneedforritualssuchasbaptism.Thisinfluenceswhatisbeingbuiltwithinthe
Church,suchasabaptisterythatwouldbeacentralsacrament(Wharton1992:319322).The
baptisteryshowsitsopennesstoconvertsanddevelopingpracticesrevolvingaroundphysical
space.ThesenewdevelopingChristiantraditionswouldhelpestablishtheChurchoftheHoly
Sepulcherbothasareligiousiconandapoliticalone.
TheChurchoftheHolySepulcherbeingcreatedthroughandforChristianityhasapolitical
aspecttoit,whichaffectsChristianinterestinspaceandvalues.Considertheconstructionofthe
Churchitselfasastandingmonumentofwhoisdominatingthecity.Withthetemplelongsince
destroyed,theconstructionoftheChurchbringsaboutanewreligiousshrineinJerusalem
(Ousterhout1990:4445).ThisservesasabeaconforthoseinthecitytoseethatChristiansarea
dominantpower.ItwasthepinnacleimageofdisplayingJerusalemastheChristianHolyCity
whereweseeashiftofthesacredcenterofthecityandwheretheholinessofNewJerusalem
wassopowerfulitpulledthetraditionofOldJerusalemintoitsorbit(Armstrong1996:
225232).AlthoughthiswasonlybroughtaboutbecauseofConstantinessuccessandfaith,the
constructionofthetemplehelpedfortifytheChristianspositioninJerusalem.Itsuseasbotha
politicalandreligiousstructureensuredtheneedforittobegrandandostentatious.Thiswould
affecthowitistheChristianswouldcometointeractwithitandaltercertainbeliefs.The
Christians,whohadbelievedthemselvestobeabovethepietyofneedingaholyplace,suddenly
findthemselvesverymuchgroundedtotheChurchasthemeanstoworshipandbepious.So

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muchsothatthereistheeffortofgoingonpilgrimages(Armstrong1996:200207).Thisalso
reinforcestheneedtohavetheChurchlinkedwithothersacredsitesaswell,inanattemptto
legitimizefurtherthecreationofChristiansacredspace.ThereforeweseehowitistheChurch
oftheHolySepulcherhascometoportraythechangeinChristianviewonsacredspace,and
evenprevalentinthearchitectureofthebuildingitself.
ThebuildinglayoutitselfwouldcometosharethechangingChristianvalueandultimately
portraytherathernewbeliefs.ThefirstnotiontoconsideristheChurchoftheHolySepulcher
similaritytotheTemple.Whilethephysicallayoutdiffersgreatly,thereisagreatsimilarityin
theactualconstructionprocess.Theconstructionfollowedthesamepatterntoestablishthefaith
withthepropheciesandsothatthevariousaspectsinwhichJesuswaslinkedtotheTemple
couldnowbelinkedtotheChurch(Ousterhout1990:4648).Theemphasisondrawingfromthe
TempleatallservestolegitimizethefunctionoftheChurchoftheHolySepulcher.Bydrawing
onthescripturealreadyinplacebecauseoftheTemple,thereisamotivationtoreplicateitfor
theinterestinestablishingtheChristiansacredspace.Thenextpointonthelayoutwouldbe
whatiswithintheChurchitself.EachaspectoftheChurchservedsomeformofpurpose.
ParticularlysincethelandwaschosenforitsaffiliationwithChrist.Thisparticularlandmanages
totieinnotonlythecrucifixionofJesusatGolgotha,butalsohisburial.Withsuchpowerful
eventsonthiswesternhill,thesacredspacewouldcometobeconsideredpowerfulandhelps
legitimizetheChurchoftheHolySepulcher.TheimportanceofthetiestoJesusisalsofor
determiningtheChurchsomethingbeyondsacredspace,suchasanimagomundi.Ofcourseitis
apparentthattheChristianinterestinconstructingthissacredspacesharesadualityinhowtheir

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beliefsdevelop.ButthereisalsohowtheChurchoftheHolySepulcheronthissacredspace
comestoestablishnewtraditionsorpracticesfortheChristiansthemselves.
WhatweseewiththeChurchoftheHolySepulcheriswheretheChristianbeliefsplace
emphasis,whichcanbeseenthroughthearchitectureanddecoration.Itisinterestingtonotethat
themostdecoratedpartoftheChurchistheGolgothaorCalvary.Thismayplacetheemphasis
onhowimportantthecrucifixionmeantforChristianity.Itmaybeanefforttodrawattentionto
whatthecrucifixionmeantinrelationtothetieswithothersacredevents.Suchaswiththe
bindingofIsaacthereisaparalleltothesacrificeofJesusasthesacrificiallamb.Creatingthe
sacredspacebutalsoalteringthesiteofGolgothatoMountMoriahaswell(Osterhout1990:47).
ThisisimportantinemphasizingthefundamentalbeliefthatthroughthecrucifixionofJesusthe
originalsinwasrepentedandhumanitywasabletoberedeemed.Nowthisalterstheperspective
oftheChurchfromacommemorationofJesus,tothepointofsalvation.Thissacredspaceis
nowabletobeinterpretedasthenewstartforhumanityasawhole.Thisreinforcedtheideaof
pietytoaparticularplacesuchastheChurchoftheHolySepulcher.
Thestoneofanointingalsoplaysasimilarrole.Consideredtobemoreofarelic,theaffiliation
ofitwiththepositionofKingsgiveswaytointerpretingJesusasthemostpowerfulone,and
beingveneratedwiththeringofSolomonaddsprestige(Ousterhout1990:47).Thesimplest
purpose,besideprestige,istotietheChurchmoreintimatelywithJerusalemanditspast,perhaps
eventotheDavidicdynasty.TheringofSolomoncouldserveasimilarpurposebutwiththe
addedemphasisonhowitisJesusandChristianityhasthepowertosealordispeldemons
(Ousterhout1990:47).Byportrayingthemselvesasstrongerthanbeingssuchasdemons,then

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morepeoplewouldbejoiningtheChristians.Anothereffectofcollectingandappropriatingsuch
relicsfortheChurchwouldbetheaddedideaofsecurityorprotectionthattheymayoffer.
ThebaptisteryisaratherinterestingaspecttotheChurchoftheHolySepulcherthathelps
determinehowChristianbeliefsstartedturningtowardsabasisonplaceandsacredspace.
Baptismwastheadmissionintothecommunity,andthereforewasafundamentalaspectof
helpingChristiansgrowwithinJerusalem.Itwouldbemorecloselytiedwiththepublicpartof
theChurchandwascentralizedwithanaddedimportanceduringcertainperiodssuchasEaster
(Wharton1992:317318).ThebaptisterypointstoopennessandanefforttogrowtheChristian
community.PerhapsinanefforttofurtherestablishthepresenceofChristianswithinthecityof
JerusalemthatwouldbeadequateforhavingtheChurchoftheHolySepulcherasthecenter.But
itcouldalsobeinterpretedasapoliticalmaneuverintryingtomaintainaccessandstatusin
Jerusalem.Althoughnotnecessarilyadireissueofthetime,itmayhavenotbeeninconsiderate
inattemptingtohavecontingencymeasures.ItalsopointstothemannerinwhichChristians
wouldbewillingtoholdbaptism.Beingamongstlargegroupsoutintheopenwouldshowhow
theyaretryingtodevelopcommunityandunity.
ThereisalsoanemphasisinhowtheChurchoftheHolySepulchermanagestotieChristian
beliefstothatofJesus.Theholysepulcher,centralandintegralpartoftheChurch,isthemain
emphasiswhichhelpsestablishtheChurchassacredspace.TheChurchisacommemorationof
thelastmomentsofJesus.TheplanoftheChurchsoughttonotonlycommemoratethese
momentsbutinsomesensebecomeanewformofresurrection.Establishingthispatternhelped
developtheChurchoftheHolySepulcherasChristiansacredspace.Usingthevarioussacred
spacesandlinkingthemtogetherhelpsestablishthelinksbetweenthedifferentplanes,bridging

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theheavenandtheunderworldwiththeburialofJesusandhisascension.Thisfortifiedthe
ChristianendeavortoestablishsacredspaceoftheirownbyusingtheChurchoftheHoly
SepulcherasafocalpointingroundingChristianbeliefsandtraditions.
AninterestingaspectofthattheChurchoftheHolySepulchereffectontheChristiantraditions
isthesuddenintroductionofpilgrimages.Beforetakinganinterestinsacredspace,therewas
reallynoconceptofundergoingapilgrimageuntilConstantinesenthismother,Helena.It
becamerathernecessaryforthepioustoundergothepilgrimagetosolidifytheirfaith.Thisin
turnhadapowerfulimpactonthecityofJerusalemitself.Itbecamepilgrimsthatbegan
transformingandmadethebackboneoftheuniquereligiousandculturaltransformationthatis
theChristianizationofJerusalemandoftheHolyLand(Irshai2009:467).Itisthenapparent
thatJerusalemitselfbecomesphysicallytransformedbecauseofthesepilgrims.Butwealsosee
itinthestructureoftheChurchoftheHolySepulcherwhereitbecomesaccommodatingfor
housingthesepilgrims.Thiseffectwilleventuallyhaveinfluenceinthefutureendeavorsin
claimingJerusalemduringtheCrusades.
TheChurchoftheHolySepulcherwasregardedincrediblebythepilgrims.Itcametobe
regardedsoawesomethattheveryfabricofthebuildingcametoberegardedasasacredrelic
(Ousterhout2003:20).TheChurchoftheHolySepulcherwentbeyondjustbeingaconstruction
tobeinganactualexperience.Theexperiencewasbroughtaboutbythearchitectureofthe
Churchthatdisplayedthemeaningoftheplace.IthelpedformtheChurchoftheHolySepulcher
assacredspace.
ItisratherastoundinghowitisthatChristianitychangedfundamentallyfromapietywithout
needofplacetoapietyindireneedofit,tothepointwhichentirecampaignswereundergoneto

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claimJerusalem.ItbecameevidentthatJerusalemhadbecomeChristiansacredspace,andmore
sotheChristianHolyCity.TheclaimingofthecityduringtheCrusadesgreatlyalteredthe
Jerusalemlandscapes.Tothepointofrededicationofholysitesandsacredspace.Butmoresoit
becamenecessarytomaintainandrebuildpowerfulChristianmonumentssuchastheChurchof
theHolySepulcher.Thesewereconsideredinsuchhighregardthatevenstonesfromthe
buildingsoftheChurchoftheHolySepulcherweresacred(Ousterhout1989:223).Itwasalso
duringthistimethatMountMoriahwasshiftedforthepurposeinstrengtheningtheChurchof
theHolySepulcherlandslinktothemoresacredspace(Schein1984:177).Itisalsothroughthis
thattheChurchstrengthensasaformofaxismundi.Christianityhasbecomeheavilyinvestedin
itslinktosacredspaceandproducingChristiansacredspacewhichtheChurchoftheHoly
Sepulcheratteststo.
ItisfascinatingtheseehowitishowmuchofanimpacttheChurchoftheHolySepulcherhad
onChristianityandJerusalem.Perhapsextrapolatingtothepoliticsofreligionitself.Itisnot
unreasonabletothinkthattheconstructionoftheChurchoftheHolySepulchermayhavebeena
powerfultriggertofissuringandconflictsamongotherreligions.Awaytothinkaboutthe
ChurchoftheHolySepulcheristoconsideritasacogturninginthemechanismthatcreated
Jerusalemasweknowittoday.Especiallyifweconsiderhowitplaysaroleinthestrugglefor
dominanceagainstIslamandtheDomeoftheRockwithinJerusalem.Particularlywhenwelook
athowtheDomeoftheRockisareactiontotheChurchoftheHolySepulcher,suchaswith
detailslikeportrayingimagesofJesusandhisapostlesamongmanyothers,whichdirectly
displayreligiouscontext.WhereastheDomeoftheRocktakestheopposingbeliefwherethere

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arenodirectdisplaysofreligiouscontext,butratherdoesitthroughothersubtlemeans.Inany
case,theinfluencewhichtheChurchoftheHolySepulcherhasisratherapparent.
SoitwasthroughthevariousaspectsandarchitectureoftheChurchoftheHolySepulcherthat
weseeanembodimentandinfluenceoftheChristianbeliefsthathavealteredtotakeaninterest
intosacredspace,particularlywithdevelopingsacredspacespecifictoChristianity.TheChurch
oftheHolySepulcherhasinfluencedChristiantraditionsandfoundations.Butitsprominent
developmentasChristiansacredspacehasmadeitapowerfulplaceforChristianbeliefstobe
groundedin.Somuchsothatitwentontoshapeandalterthepoliticalandreligiouslandscapeof
Jerusalem.OfcourseitcouldnothavedonesowithoutthecombiningofvariousJewish
traditionswiththenewfoundChristiantraditionstohelplegitimizeitssacredspace,andtherefore
becomesacenterofworshipwithJerusalemitself.Andthereisstillmoreforustolearnand
understandthroughourdiscourseoftheChurchoftheHolySepulcherandJerusalem.

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RobertOusterhout,TheTemple,theSepulchre,andtheMartyrionoftheSavior,Gesta29/1
(1990)4453.
RobertOusterhout,RebuildingtheTemple:ConstantineMonomachusandtheHolySepulchre,
TheJournaloftheSocietyofArchitecturalHistorians48/1(1989)6678.

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RobertOusterhout,ArchitectureasRelicandtheConstructionofSanctity:TheStonesofthe
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S.Schein,BetweenMountMoriahandtheHolySepuchre:TheChangingTraditionsofthe
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