ABSTRACT
As a sacred city, Jerusalem is the single most important place for Muslims, Jews and Christians, hosting significant sites for the three monotheistic religions. Among Jerusalem’s holy shrines (churches, mosques and synagogues), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Anastasis (resurrection in Greek), stands out as the central shrine of all Christendom, with multiple Christian communities cohabiting at the site (Figure 32.1). Located at the heart of the Christian Quarter of the Old City, the Church of the Anastasis is believed to host the site of Jesus’ crucifixion (Rock of Golgotha) within its walls, as well as the tomb (Sepulchre) associated with his burial and resurrection among other shrines (Figure 32.2). This chapter, drawing upon long term anthropological fieldwork in the Anastasis, introduces the reader to the close relations between the custodian groups residing in the Church.
