The tomb of the Virgin was opened by the decision of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, according to legend, a belt and burial shrouds were found in it (the Holy Belt is now located in the monastery on Mount Athos in Greece). This is the greatest Christian shrine, where, according to Sacred legend, the Most Holy Theotokos was buried by the apostles, located in Gethsemane, at the foot of the western slope of the Mount of Olives, in the Kedron Valley. The cave church of the Assumption of the Virgin was built above the tomb. The temple (grotto) is owned by the Jerusalem Greek Orthodox Patriarchate; the Armenian Church also has the right to use it, other Christian denominations have access to worship. According to a legend known since the fourth century, the Virgin died in Jerusalem in 57 at the age of 72 and the apostles buried Her in Gethsemane in the family tomb, where her parents Joachim and Anna and her husband Joseph the Betrothed were buried. In 326, Tsarina Elena built the first church over the Tomb of the Virgin. The lower part of the church was a cave in the shape of a cross, most of which was cut into the rock.In the following centuries, the church was destroyed several times, but the Tomb of the Virgin was not damaged, because Muslims revered it as the tomb of the mother of the prophet Isa (Jesus), and also because during his transfer from Mecca to Jerusalem, the Prophet Muhammad saw the light above the Tomb of Mary. After the departure of the Crusaders, the Tomb of the Virgin was watched by the Franciscans, and now jointly by the Greek, Armenian, Syrian and Coptic Orthodox Churches and Muslims. The tomb of the Virgin is located underground, only the pediment with Gothic arches of the XII century is located above the ground.A wide (6.5 m) stone staircase of 48 steps leads down from the entrance (by the way, on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, the ENTIRE staircase is lined with candles and only a narrow passage for one person remains free...I personally saw this sea of candles ...). The underground church has the shape of a cross and there is a kuvuklia-chapel 2 x 2 m. with the coffin of the Virgin. The kuvuklia is covered with marble and decorated with jewels, it is illuminated by 24 silver candlesticks and several lamps. Behind the kuvuklia, in the eastern part of the temple, there is a miraculous and highly revered icon of the Mother of God of Jerusalem in Russian script, which is placed in a pink marble kiosk. To her left, against the wall, there is an Orthodox altar. In the middle of the stairs (23 steps on the right when descending) there are two chapels: The right one in honor of Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin, belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. The left side chapel was consecrated in honor of Joseph the Betrothed. Since 1814, the chapel belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The main throne is located inside the kuvuklia, directly above the bed of the Mother of God. The throne belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church, but the Armenian Apostolic Church also has the right to perform services in it. Perhaps, for the Orthodox, this is the second Shrine for mandatory visits by pilgrims and tourists in Israel. The grace around you is absolute...

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The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary opens early in the morning, the Service begins at 06:30, or at 07:00, but it is usually Evening with Morning in Greek, the Liturgy itself begins around eight in the morning. Here are the place of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the icon of the Mother of God of Jerusalem and other Shrines

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Наталья С.

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A place that leaves a lasting impression!

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Tomb of the Virgin Mary

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