In Jerusalem on March 22, the official delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by the Primate, his Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry took part in the solemn ceremony of consecration of the Edicule – the chapel over the Sepulchre. As told operating Affairs of the UOC Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), the trip took place at the invitation of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and the Patriarch of Jerusalem and all Palestine Theophilus III, said the information Center of the UOC.
“The temple of Christ’s Resurrection – the main Shrine for all Christians. C ancient times, it is named the majestic temple complex which includes the Edicule is the place of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and several other Holy places associated with the suffering on the cross of Christ and His Resurrection,” said Metropolitan Anthony.
As you know, Edicule is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Roman Catholic and Armenian Churches who have consented to the restoration.
“The complex which we now see is the temple, which has a half thousand years was not closed. In this complex there are facilities where they do worship only certain denominations, but as the Sepulchre is a place common to all. Here do worship most Christian denominations. Between the religions of these times, in connection with the desire to own the temple, was strife. But now, thank God, each denomination has its place. In the Shrine, for example, all defined watches for worship. Thus, the Orthodox Church serves the Liturgy in the morning, four hours later, the service makes the Armenian Church, and in four hours this place is for worship of the Catholic Church,” said Archbishop Anthony.
He also spoke about the peculiarities of the possession of the temple complex of the Holy Sepulchre.
“With respect to ownership – a special status, for several centuries the keys of the Holy Sepulchre in charge of the Muslims. Now it is a family nusseibeh. Members of this family every day, morning and evening, open and close the temple,” said the Metropolitan.
According to the information Center of the UOC, Edicule was built in 1810. According to open sources, the restoration of the Edicule lasted 9 months, the cost of the work amounted to 4 million euros. The reconstruction of the chapel was performed by employees of the Athens national Polytechnic University. In progress masters managed to remove the metal frame of the chapel and cleaning the facade of soot. Every year on Holy Saturday in the Shrine is the miracle of the Holy fire.
