The
Church of The Holy Sepulchre: First built by order of the Emperor Constantine the Great,
immediately following the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.). The Tomb of Jesus was discovered
by the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine. The place was revealed to her in a dream
while she was on a visit to Jerusalem. Three different buildings were erected on the spot:
A round church called the Anastasis above the empty grave of Jesus; a magnificent basilica
called the Martyrium; and in the square between the two churches, a shrine marking the
position of the crucifixion, named Calvarium (Golgotha). In 614 A.D. they were destroyed
by the Persians. They were rebuilt only to be destroyed by Caliph Hakim in 1009 A.D. They
were partially restored once more, then in 1149 A.D. the Crusaders, after conquest of
Jerusalem, erected the present church, which has the Tomb of Jesus and the place of
crucifixion under one roof.
From the book "The Holy Land"
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