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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,ArchitectureasRelicandtheConstructionofSanctity:TheStonesofthe

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