Tag Archive for Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Egyptian and church officials upset after Police subdue Monk in Jerusalem

Police and Coptic priests scuffle outside Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher in protest of planned restoration work; Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemns behavior of Israel Police officers’ handling of the incident.

By AP

 

A scuffle between police forces and Coptic priests at a major Christian holy site in Jerusalem on Wednesday drew condemnation from Egypt and churches in the Holy Land.

Police and Coptic priests wrangled outside a contested chapel at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

Israel Police contain rowdy Coptic priests protesting outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

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Egyptian Coptic Pope makes first visit to Jerusalem since 1967 travel ban on Israel

 

Coptic Church says Pope Tawadros II did not obtain Israeli visa to visit Jerusalem since there’s no official travel restrictions for Egyptian citizens travelling to Israel.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

The Egyptian head of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, made a rare visit to Jerusalem to preside over the funeral on Saturday of a Coptic bishop.

The leader of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II walks outside the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Saturday – Photo: AP

The previous Coptic pope, Shenouda III, banned worshipers from traveling to Jerusalem more than three decades ago, despite a 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Continue Reading »

Photo Essay: Orthodox Christians Celebrate ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony in Jerusalem

Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem  for the ancient fire ceremony at the Church of Holy Sepulcher to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

By AFP

 

Thousands of Christian pilgrims filled Jerusalem’s ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the “Holy Fire” ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

A Christian pilgrim holds up a candle as others gather at the church of the Holy Sepulcher (Photo: AP)
A Christian pilgrim holds up a candle as others gather at the church of the Holy Sepulcher (Photo: AP)

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians flocked to the church and surrounding streets in the east Jerusalem’s Old City for the ceremony, held under a heavy police presence. Continue Reading »

Church of Holy Sepulcher owes NIS 9m. after years of refusing to pay water bill

Church threatens to shut its doors because Jerusalem water company took legal recourse to freezes the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s bank account.

By REUTERS

 

Jesus may have walked on water and turned it into wine but the hefty water bill for one of the holiest sites of Christendom is proving a headache for the church.

Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - Photo: Ammar Awad/Reuters

Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – Photo: Ammar Awad/Reuters

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, said to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, is struggling with a NIS 9 million ($2.3 million) unpaid bill owed to the Jerusalem water company.

This week the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has extensive and valuable property holdings in the Holy Land and maintains a headquarters in the ancient church, had its bank account frozen, said an official at water company Hagihon.

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