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The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem |
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Head down the steps to an area that was once a crypt located beneath the Constantine basilica, which was not rebuilt by the Crusaders. On the way down, look at the graffiti, mainly crosses, inscribed on the walls by Pilgrims. These date from the twelfth century. |
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| At the foot of the stairs you will enter the Armenian chapel of St Helena, dedicated to the Mother of Emperor Constantine. | |
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| Chapel of the Finding
of the Cross Legend tells us that on her visit to Jerusalem she discovered the cross of the crucifixion, and the crosses of the thieves. To visit the location, go down another flight of stairs to the right of the altar, passing the chair on which it is said Helena sat when the discovery took place. |
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| Chapel of St Vartan The Chapel of St. Vartan is reached through a door on the north side of the chapel of St Helena, though that door is rarely opened. This area was a void discovered during excavations in the 1970s; it has become an Armenian chapel dedicated to an Armenian saint. Some of the stonework here was from the second-century temple of Venus built by Hadrian, and there are also foundations of Constantine’s church. A stone was found with an image of a merchant ship with the inscription DOMINE IVIMVS, 'Lord we shall go', which is claimed to be based on psalm 122. It has been suggested that this is an early pilgrimage reference, but others say that is wishful thinking and the image dates from before the time of Constantine. |
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