The Holy Sepulcher or the sacred Tomb, is called in Arabic "Al-Qiyame", which means the Resurrection. It is no doubt the most important shrine in the Christian world. On the grounds of the Holy Sepulcher it is believed that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Roman Catholics, Copts, Ethiopians and Syrian Orthodox all share rights to the church. Those rights came as the result of a status quo agreement negotiated at the time of the Ottoman Turks 200 years ago. The agreement governs time and space for the Holy Sepulcher. The different communities conduct their prayers at appointed hours, filling the church with a continuos cycle of prayers. Today the keys to the basilica are in the hands of a prominent Palestinian Moslem family. The doors of the Holy Sepulcher open every morning at 07:00 and close at 20:00. This ceremony is performed in the presence of a Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Roman Catholic priest. Pilgrims started visiting the Holy Sepulcher about 2000 years ago, on the resurrection day, when May Magdalen and the disciples of Jesus went to the Tomb and found it empty. Emperor Constantine built the original church in the fourth century, after destroying the temple built by Herodion 132-135. Herodion built his temple in an attempt to erase any traces of Christianity and dedicated it to the gods Jupiter, Junon, and Venus. But most of what we see today is the work of the Crusaders, who in the year 1149 built the great basilica over Calvary and the empty Tomb of Jesus.
The basilica is a collection of chapels clustered around the rock of Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus.

The Saturday of Light, or (Sabt el Nour) in Arabic, is the highlight of the Easter celebrations. On April 3rd and April 10th (For the Greek Orthodox) this year, as in every year, thousands of Christians from all over will flock to Jerusalem to take part in the celebration of "The Light". A designated representative of the Christian Community from each city or village takes back "the light" to their city or village on Saturday afternoon where it is greeted by the drums and music of the Scouts groups, both Christian and Moslem. The streets of the Old City of Jerusalem remain filled with young and old until way past midnight.

The Via Dolorosa is among the holiest sites in Christendom. It is the path taken by Jesus when, bearing his cross on his back, he made his way to the place of his crucifixion. The Via Dolorosa is a street no different from any other street in the northern part of the Old city, except for the nine stations which lie along it to commemorate the dramatic events of Jesus' last journey. It starts not far from Lion's Gate (St. Stephen's Gate) and winds its way westward and winds its way westward towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the route followed by Jesus from the place of his trial- the Praetorium - to the place of crucifixion on Golgotha. The exact route of the Via Dolorosa - as well as the location of the stations along it - is still disputed by scholars. The Way of the Cross was not finally fixed as it is today until the 15th century.

Of the 14 stations of the Via Dolorosa, nine are along the route and five inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The nine stations are the Praetorium, the Chapel of the Condemnation, the place where he fell for the first time, the Church of our Lady of the Spasm, the place where Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross, the house of Veronica who wiped his face with her veil, the place where Jesus fell the second time, the place where he talked to the women of Jerusalem, and the place where he fell for the third time.