Reporter Sleeps Overnight Inside Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulcher Amid Shared Clergy Rituals

At dusk the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem was sealed with heavy bolts, leaving a reporter, about a dozen priests and several registered pilgrims inside the sacred complex. The keys are traditionally kept by a Muslim family, and the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches jointly manage the interior spaces. During the night, clergy from each tradition conducted separate liturgies in rotation, while pilgrims like Brazilian Peter Stängle knelt before the unction stone, reflecting on personal salvation.

The Franciscan Custos, Rev. Giuseppe Gaffurini, described the experience as a profound encounter that revitalizes faith despite reduced tourism caused by regional conflicts. A Greek Orthodox priest and an Armenian cleric also participated, illustrating a cooperative atmosphere that contrasts with historic disputes over the site. Dawn services concluded the overnight vigil, after which the basilica reopened to daytime worshippers.