Church of the Holy Sepulchre

'A beacon of tolerance': Holy Fire ceremony marked in Jerusalem's Old City

Jerusalem's Municipality had worked with the Tourism and Interior Ministries to prepare for the event, with Mayor Moshe Lion extending his blessing to the Jerusalem Christian community.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Christian worshippers take part in the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City during the Easter holiday on April 11, 2026.
LATIN PATRIARCH of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, shakes hands with a person, as he passes through an Israeli checkpoint to attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025.

Jerusalem’s Palm Sunday and the asymmetry of moral judgment - opinion

Why are Israeli actions so readily framed as moral failures, even when taken under conditions of ongoing threat, while the context that shapes those actions recedes so quickly?

|ByNIRA BRONER WORCMAN
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025.

When faith meets security: Understanding the Palm Sunday incident amid the Iran war - editorial

The diplomatic noise that preceded the resolution now looks a little excessive. After all, we are still at war, and therefore, there are restrictions on life.

|ByJPOST EDITORIAL
IDF soldiers stand behind a masked man swinging a slingshot while hurling stones at Palestinians who had gathered for the annual olive harvest season, during an attack by Israeli settlers on the Palestinian village of Beita, south of Nablus in the West Bank, on October 10, 2025.

When individual acts become a national indictment - analysis

When one man drills a hole, the danger is real, but it is still only one man drilling. The rest of the passengers are not holding the drill. In Israel’s case, that distinction frequently collapses.

|ByHERB KEINON

Church of the Holy Sepulchre opens for Palm Sunday amid COVID-19

"Last year was a terrible Easter, without people, closed doors. This year is much better, the door is open, we don't have a lot of people but we feel more hopeful that things will become better."

MARCH 28, 2021ByREUTERS
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks along Christian worshippers and the clergy holding palm fronds during a Palm Sunday procession outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City March 28, 2021.

Jesus’ birthplace became a pilgrimage site earlier than previously thought

But when did Christians start traveling to places in Israel associated with events described in the Bible for religious reasons?

DECEMBER 24, 2020ByHANNAH BROWN
A view of a mass in memory of the late Pope John Paul II in front of the sepulchre in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old city.

Church of Holy Sepulchre closes amid coronavirus spike

331 Palestinians test positive

JULY 11, 2020ByTAMAR URIEL-BEERI
A view of a mass in memory of the late Pope John Paul II in front of the sepulchre in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old city.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre to re-open Sunday following extended closure

The church was forced to close its doors to the public in late March due to the coronavirus lockdown.

MAY 24, 2020ByDONNA RACHEL EDMUNDS
Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Eastern Orthodox mark Holy Fire in Jerusalem

Called the Saturday of Light by some eastern churches, the holiday is observed according to the Julian calendar which the Orthodox adhere to, explained Armenian historian George Hintlian.

APRIL 18, 2020ByGIL ZOHAR
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem stands at the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Good Friday service amid restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jerusalem's Old City April 10, 2020.

Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre closes amid coronavirus fears

The closure, initially for a week, followed a meeting between Israeli police and church leaders.

MARCH 25, 2020ByREUTERS
A worshippers stands in front of the closed entrance door of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City March 9, 2020. Picture taken March 9, 2020.

Vatican, Christian leaders tour holy churches of Jerusalem and West Bank with COGAT

In honor of Christmas, COGAT approved a series of civilian measures for the Christian populations of the Gaza Strip as well as those in Judea and Samaria.

JANUARY 1, 2020ByZACHARY KEYSER
COGAT tour of Christian holy sites with Christian leaders

Tourism Minister urges Christians to extend hours at Holy Sepulchre Church

55% of tourists visiting Israel in 2019 were Christian, says Ministry of Tourism

DECEMBER 17, 2019ByMAAYAN HOFFMAN
Clergymen meet with Tourism Minister Yariv Levin at the Holy Sepulchre Church

Holy Sepulchre plans first renovation in generations

Various sects connected to the historic Jerusalem church, fraught with long-standing conflict, have agreed that renovations are necessary at the site where many believe Jesus was buried.

MAY 31, 2019ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Custodian of the Holy Land Father Francesco Patton, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos and Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian, celebrate after signing agreements giving their approval for a restoration project for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusal

Easter, Good Friday celebrated in Jerusalem - watch

The ceremonial lighting of the "holy fire" took place at the historic church.

APRIL 21, 2019ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Christian worshippers attend Easter Sunday Mass in Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulcher Church April 21, 2019