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The ambulatory of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre runs in a semi-circle on the east side of the building along the vault of the Catholicon. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Old City of Jerusalem.
Chapel of the Derision
From south to north, the first chapel after the exit to Golgotha is the Chapel of the Derision, also known as the Chapel of the Crown of Thorns. It belongs to the Greek Orthodox and commemorates the mocking of Christ. When Christ was in the Praetorium, Roman soldiers dressed him in a red robe and placed a crown of thorns on his head. The story is depicted in a three-paneled painting on the wall.
In the vault under the altar of the chapel is a granite pillar believed to be the one Christ sat on when the crown of thorns was placed on his head. It was originally located at the Praetorium. To the right of the altar is a container filled with the hardest thorns found in Palestine.
Chapel of St. Helena
Next, a vaulted corridor down 29 steps leads to the Chapel of St. Helena. On the way down the stairs look closely at the stones on the wall, where crosses carved by Crusaders and pilgrims are clearly visible.
The Chapel of St. Helena was built in the 12th century. According to our guide, it marks the location of St. Helen’s tent as she searched for the True Cross. The chapel once belonged to the Ethiopians but they had to sell it to the Armenians because of financial difficulties.
The altar on the right is dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator while the altar on the left is dedicated to the Penitent Thief, or St. Dismas. An iron gate on the left side leads to the Chapel of St. Vartan and the Armenian Martyrs, and is opened only with permission of the Armenians. It contains an archaeological site displaying walls from the 2nd century Hadrian’s Temple and a 4th century support for Constantine’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There’s also a First Temple period rock quarry and cistern.
The mosaic floor in the chapel was made in the 20th century by Israeli artist Hava Yofe. It depicts churches in historical Armenia. Above is a beautifully decorated dome and there are a few paintings along the walls.
Chapel of the Finding of the Cross
From the southern side of the Chapel of St. Helena, another 22 steps lead down to a cave containing the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross, which belongs to the Franciscans.
According to tradition, this is where St. Helen found the True Cross and the crosses of the thieves crucified with Jesus. The crosses were found on the south side and the nails on the north side. Glass walls on the south side protect 12th century frescoes.
On the south side of the cave is a plaque on the floor indicating the spot of the discovery of the cross. It was placed there by the Greek Orthodox in 1810. On the north side of the cave is a small altar with a statue of St. Helen with the cross.
Chapel of the Division of the Robes
Back up the stairs to the ambulatory is the Chapel of the Division of the Robes, also known as the Chapel of the Division of the Raiment. It belongs to the Armenians and commemorates the Roman soldiers dividing Christ’s clothes among them.
Chapel of St. Longinus
The next chapel is the Chapel of St. Longinus. He was the Roman Centurion who pierced Christ with a spear and then accepted him as the Son of God. The chapel belongs to the Greek Orthodox.
Prison of Christ
Finally, on the north side of the ambulatory of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the Prison of Christ. It’s a small three-room chapel belonging to the Greek Orthodox. It’s believed Christ and the two thieves were temporarily kept there before being led to the cross. Another tradition says it was the spot the Virgin Mary fainted upon seeing her only son on the cross.
