Strange Places in Jerusalem: Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Immovable Ladder Church of the Holy Sepulchre: A wooden step ladder leaning over a balcony against the right window at the Church of the Sepulchre's second-tier facade in Jerusalem's Old Town. The cornice is where the ladder rests, and it is placed against the window. The Armenian Apostolic Church owns this window. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre ladder is the symbol of Christianity's interfaith conflict. The six Christian denominations owning the Church agree to place the immovable ladder in their proper places. They are forbidden from moving, repairing, or changing anything inside the Church without their consent.

The famous immovable ladder rests against the façade of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Immovable Ladder Jerusalem: The Mysterious Ladder at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

An immovable ladder on the facade of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre signifies a conflict between Christian denominations over the right to control the shrines of the Church of the Lord and the division of the Church among six Christian denominations. Various parts of the Church are now owned by the Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Coptic Orthodox Church. Since the 16th century, the most numerous, wealthy, and influential communities have been especially hostile.

Conflicts in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were constant. The Ottoman government issued decrees regulating relations between Christian denominations – such decrees were issued in 1604, 1637, 1673, 1757 and 1852.

The Story Behind the Mysterious Jerusalem Ladder

It is not known precisely when the steps appeared on the church facade. Since the Armenian Apostolic Church owns the ancient ladder, they can use it and leave it through their window during religious holidays. The ladder in Jerusalem is owned by the Greek Orthodox Church and must be kept in place due to strict observance of the "Status Quo." The Christian Information Centre of Jerusalem uses the same method to locate the ladder on the facade. "The short ladder is part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre facade because of the Status Quo."

The Immovable Ladder as a Symbol of Jerusalem

The holy sepulchre ladder is now a sign. Looking at the facade and the ladder leaning against the wall, one can see that the "Status Quo", or the status quo, is being respected. The six Christian denominations owning the Church have agreed to place the ladder there. They will not move, fix, or modify anything inside the Church without their consent. Pope Paul VI described the Jerusalem ladder as "a visible sign of the schism within Christianity" and "a visual symbol of the observance of the status quo" during his 1964 pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

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The famous immoveable ladder rests against the façade of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

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The historic wooden ladder is associated with the centuries-old traditions of the Holy Sepulchre.

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The Immovable Ladder has become one of the most unusual historical curiosities in Jerusalem.

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The ladder can be seen beneath an upper-level window on the church's exterior.

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A close view of the unusual ladder on the exterior of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Google Map)

The ladder is popularly associated with the complex Status Quo arrangements at the Holy Sepulchre.

Conclusion

The Immovable Ladder of Jerusalem is far more than an ordinary wooden ladder. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre ladder, often called the mysterious Jerusalem ladder, has become one of the most fascinating curiosities in the city. Its unusual history is closely connected with the traditions and agreements surrounding the status quo of Jerusalem, making the Holy Sepulchre ladder a powerful symbol of religious history and shared responsibility. For travellers exploring strange places in Jerusalem, this simple ladder offers a remarkable glimpse into the complex traditions surrounding one of Christianity’s most important holy sites.

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SOURCE → WIKIPEIDA (Holy_Sepulchre) / WIKIPDIA (Status_Quo)