Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre
4th in the "Holy Land Sites" Numismatic Bullion Series

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (also known as the Church of the Resurrection) is recognized in most Christian traditions as the place of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ. The church is considered one of the most important and sacred churches for Christians.

The church is located in the Christian quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem at the end of the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering).
Within the walls of the church is a site known as the Golgotha Hill. According to tradition, this is the place where the crucifixion of Jesus took place, "and it was when they came to the place called Golgotha, and they crucified him there." (Luke 23:33)
About three hundred years after the death of Jesus, Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, consecrated the location and ordered the construction of a church to mark the holy site. This holy site is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The church building today is based on the renovation from the Crusader period and includes the last five stations among the "Via Dolorosa", as well as sites such as the Messiah Stone and the Cave of the Cross of the Cross.
In Latin, the courtyard entrance of the church is called ‘Pervis’, and both the courtyard and the surrounding monasteries are an integral part of the church which belong to the three major denominations: the Latinos, the Armenians and the Greeks.
The church has a two-door gate, a design that is reflective of the Golden Gate through which Jesus entered Jerusalem. The door on the right-side of this gate was sealed at the end of the 12th century.
In May 2009, the church hosted Pope Benedict and after a ceremony and tour of the grounds, The Pope held a private prayer in the chapel of the Golgotha.

Face: The main entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with the right entrance sealed. To the right is the Chapel of the Franks and to the left is the Aedicule (Place of the Tomb)
Common Reverse of the Series: Collage of different sites in Jerusalem – In the background to the right, the Holy Trinity Church in the Russian Compound, to the left, the YMCA building, in the foreground to the right, the Garden Tomb and to the left, Jesus praying at Gethsemane, front left, part of the "Agony in the Garden" painting by Andrea Montegna.
The Holy Land Mint trademark, Inscription "Holy Land Sites" in English and Hebrew.

 Design: Ruben Nutels

 Minting :The Holy Land Mint