What Happened to the Original Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem?

Information about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem itself will be provided after this announcement (Paul Bruguera and Suzanne Bruguera). Due to the current situation and the ongoing war, I haven’t been able to guide tours in person as usual. However, I’m eager to continue sharing the rich and sacred history of the Holy Land through my videos. If you enjoy these journeys and would like to stay connected, I warmly invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I bring Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Israel to life from wherever you are. For more insights and updates, follow me on Facebook and Instagram -I regularly share additional content, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments you won’t want to miss. If you feel inspired to support my work, your generosity helps me keep these videos coming. Whether through a simple subscription, sharing with friends interested in Israel’s history, or by supporting me directly, every bit makes a difference. I also offer a personal touch: upon your request, I would be honored to pray for you at the Western Wall, light a candle in your name at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or anywhere meaningful in the Holy Land. If you have any special personal requests, please reach out — I’m happy to respond and even create a dedicated video for you. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. With gratitude, Your tour guide, Zahi Shaked Support and purchase of crosses: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahishaked PayPal Support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/zahishaked?fbclid=IwAR2RxU5bvJcA5UzxpzC28C480v9towo77GN60VuRZRR02M5Duycmh2UWYcI In this unique and carefully edited video, we explore one of the most sacred Christian sites in the world — the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem - through the lens of time. I take you on a dual tour: An external walk around the church, focusing on the surrounding buildings and urban topography that help us reconstruct the scale and grandeur of the original 4th-century Constantinian complex, built by Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. An internal visit to key spaces inside the current church, most of which date from the 12th-century Crusader period, more or less the size of today’s structure. 🔍 What makes this video different? We visually reconstruct the dramatic difference in size between the original Constantinian basilica — which once dominated the Jerusalem skyline - and the smaller, more compact Crusader church that stands today. You’ll see how much of the original complex has been lost, and what remains to tell its story. We also highlight important historical, religious, and architectural elements: The location of Golgotha (Calvary) The Aedicule, marking the traditional tomb of Jesus The Stone of Anointing The remains of Constantine’s basilica and courtyard Crusader and later additions like the Chapel of St. Helena and the Catholicon dome This is more than a tour — it’s a journey through the layers of Christian history, archaeology, and devotion that shaped the holiest site in Christendom. The original 4th-century basilica, often called the Martyrium, was commissioned by Constantine the Great and built between 326–335 CE. It included a large open courtyard (the atrium), a five-aisled basilica, and a rotunda over the tomb. Much of it was destroyed in the Persian invasion of 614 and again in the Fatimid period. The 12th-century reconstruction by the Crusaders, completed around 1149, preserved only part of the original footprint - primarily the rotunda and the catholicon. The site today is maintained by multiple Christian denominations under the Status Quo agreement. #churchofthesepulchre #churchoftheresurrection #holysepulchre #jerusalem #israel #tourguide #zahishaked #כנסייתהקבר #כנסייתהתקומה #הקברהקדוש #ירושלים #ישראל #מדריךטיולים #צחישקד