Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Mary, also Tomb of the Virgin Mary (Hebrew: קבר מרים; Greek: Τάφος της Παναγίας; Armenian: Սուրբ Մարիամ Աստվածածնի գերեզման), is a Christian tomb in the Kidron Valley – at the foot of Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem – believed by Eastern Christians to be the burial place of Mary, the mother of Jesus.[1] The Status Quo, a 250-year old understanding between religious communities, applies to the site
To the east of the building - the Grotto of Gethsemane, a cave identified as the place of Jesus' handover, where the eight disciples waited, where Judas Iscariot arrived with the Jews and betrayed Jesus (Matthew 20:36-46).
The facade of the Church of the Sepulchre, the Crusader - the pointed arches, and the columns.
the crypt
We are in the crypt of the crusader church, which stood above. The structure here is also Crusader, built on earlier remains.
The church is dedicated to Mary's tomb. The New Testament does not tell what happened to Miriam and that is why different traditions have developed about her events. Miriam's death and ascension to heaven are described in the apocryphal composition "Miriam's Assumption" from the 2nd century. The composition describes that Miriam did not die like any other person, but fell into a coma, after which she was brought to burial here, and from there she was gathered into the arms of her son into heaven. At the base of the faith is the idea that death is a punishment for human sins, while Mary was free of sins. Miriam ascended in her body to heaven, therefore the tomb is empty.
According to tradition, Miriam fell asleep on Mount Zion, was buried here, in the Jehoshaphat Valley, and was gathered into her son's arms on the Mount of Olives. Both factions commemorate the event on August 15: the Catholics call the holiday the "Festival of the Dormitions", and the Orthodox - the "Feast of the Assumption", Mary's ascension to heaven, according to the Julian calendar - on August 28.
The place was built by the crusader queen Melisande, who is buried here. In the middle of the staircase, to the east are buried Melisande, Anna and Joachim - Miriam's parents. To the west is buried Joseph, the father of Jesus.
The tomb is carved into the rock.