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The Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre sits on the east side of the Rotunda, opposite the entrance to the Edicule. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Catholicon was once the choir of a Crusader church built in 1130. It’s officially called the Church of Resurrection and now belongs to the Greek Orthodox. Paintings and icons line both sides.
Royal Arch
The entrance is called the Royal Arch. The exterior belongs to the Franciscans and functions as their choir.
Thrones
There are two thrones in the Catholicon. The throne on the south belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem while the throne on the north is for an archbishop or bishop. They sit on either side of the iconostasis, which features icons covered in gold.
Altar
The Catholicon houses the main altar of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It sits on the east side behind the iconostasis and under the apse. The walls around the apse are covered with paintings and antique icons.
Dome
The dome of the Catholicon is 29 meters (95 feet) high and 19.8 meters (65 feet) in diameter. It’s decorated with Christ Pantocrator, several saints, and the Four Evangelists. The dome sits directly above the omphalos, which represents the center of the world for Orthodox Christians.
Greek Orthodox Liturgy
On November 13, 2022, I was invited to sit in the altar during the Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy. Hearing the sounds and chants coming from different Christian denominations in other parts of the church was quite humbling. It was a unique and memorable experience.
