The ‘Prison of Christ’ chapel had been closed to tourists for a number of years while repairs were carried out following a fire which caused significant damage.
A senior official from the Greek Orthodox Church told the AFP news agency: “It is in this prison that Jesus was detained after he carried the cross along the Via Dolorosa.
“Since the end of January, it has once again become a place of prayer and contemplation.”
Tradition has it that pits dug into rock within the chapel were used to bind Jesus’ feet. Today, they are protected by a window casing.
The ‘Prison of Christ’ forms part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – a major site for Christian pilgrimage, particularly during Easter.
Some people believe the landmark – located in the Christian quarter of the Old City – marks the place where Jesus was put to death and buried.
A couple of years ago I published an article in Speculum on the Prison of Christ in #Jerusalem (at https://t.co/JIFEjNjU4f). The Prison is now being renovated and the crusader capitals are newly visible. It’s looking less like a prison than previously…. pic.twitter.com/gVdtFFVJgq
— Anthony Bale (@RealMandeville) September 26, 2018
Different parts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are overseen by different churches – Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian.
The ‘Prison of Christ’…
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