The Edicule: the Tomb

In the Bible

Joseph laid the body in his own new tomb cut in the rock and rolled a great stone across the entrance. The next day the chief priests had the tomb sealed and guarded.

Matt 27:59–61So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Matt 27:62–66The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Tradition

By tradition, the marble-covered bench inside is the rock on which Jesus lay. On Holy Saturday the Orthodox gather here for the ceremony of the Holy Fire.

Here today

A small shrine under the great dome, rebuilt in 1810 and restored in 2017; pilgrims enter a few at a time through a low door.

Through the eyes of old pilgrims

But when the first cock has crowed, forthwith the bishop descends and enters inside the cave to the Anastasis. All the doors are opened, and the whole crowd streams into the Anastasis. Here innumerable lights are shining.Egeria, c. 381–384

Stooping low, we enter the vault—the Sepulchre itself. It is only about six feet by seven, and the stone couch on which the dead Saviour lay extends from end to end of the apartment and occupies half its width. It is covered with a marble slab which has been much worn by the lips of pilgrims.Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, 1869

Before you travel, check your country’s travel advice. Opening hours and the rules of the sites change — see their official pages.

Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).