Jerusalem, Israel (8/23/09 - 3 days ago)
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
This church was my first destination after finding my way through the maze of vendors. It was here, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was put to death and buried. The religious significance for so many was palpable all around the building..people were lined up for hours to kiss certain spots. It was such an incredible feeling!
The church itself is divided up complicatedly amongst several Christian sects, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, and Armenian. The current arrangement has been in place for centuries, with the actual floor plan being divided up by the meter. Common areas are not to be changed without consensus of every party, so there are many areas that need repaired but are neglected because they can't reach an agreement. There's even a ladder up on a window sill that has been there since the 1800s because window sills are part of the common space, and no one can agree who should take it down.
These petty arguments can't take away the wonder and awe of this holy site, though.
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