Several papers pointed out that pilgrims' experience of Jerusalem was one of absence -- the hole of the cross, said to be in the middle of the world; the empty tomb of Jesus; the holes carved in the side of the tomb; the core without a center. But in the wandering, veneration, and actions of the pilgrims themselves, they filled the absence with their faith (at least some of them).
Today, all day in the conference room, was a day of absence -- the absence of the real city of Jerusalem -- but that absence was also filled -- with lots of thinking and talking about representations of Jerusalem.
Fabri writes:
"If anyone wishes to see the form (formam) of this church [The Church of the Holy Sepulchre], let him look at the `Pilgrimage,' written by that eminent lord and clever man, Lord Bernhard of Braitenbach [sic], Dean of the Metropolitan Church of Mainz, where he will be able to see its image drawn clearly as if he were standing in the courtyard and beholding it with his eyes (ac si in atrio ecclesiae staret et videret)."
--Fabri, Evagatorium (The Latin edition of his Wanderings), I, p. 344.
I couldn't see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today, but you can:
Bernhard von Breydenbach (with woodcuts by Erhard Reuwich), Peregrinatio (Mainz, 1486)
Enjoy. (Still working out the kinks in presentation, but at least the sound should work.)
Bells of the Holy Sepulchre
I enjoyed seeing more pictures of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today. The bells sound really pretty. About what time do the bells ring in the morning?
ReplyDeleteWay earlier than you want to be woken by bells on vacation I'll wager ;).
ReplyDeleteSo what happened to the domes on the church (they are present in the woodcut but absent in the pic). Were they not reconstructed after it's destruction? If not, any clue as to why they were left out?
While I can't imagine being stuck in a conference for twelve hours while the wonders of antiquity lie mere yards away outside, I'm sure you're soaking up the shared wisdom of modern thought. Here's hoping you get a little sun over the next few days.
Have you been inside the Church yet? I'm interested in seeing the inside and specifically what people do at the stone of the anointing.
ReplyDeleteHaving looked at the pictures above again i think that the domes are still there but the low angle of the photo is why you can't see them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Samantha! I am really interested in seeing inside of the church. I really hope that you are able to venture in soon and hopefully post pictures. This is very interesting to get to see. :)
ReplyDeleteThe dome looks cool! Is the inside filled with paintings on the walls or is it just stones? Hope you can get some pictures for us to see the inside.
ReplyDeleteI love the old buildings. The stone and craftsmanship and the architecture is amazing. I also think that it's really interesting that the buildings have survived thousands of years and are still standing.
ReplyDeleteThe whole concept of absence you were talking about reminded me of Dr. Chapman's lecture. Last night she talked about how Pompey went past the curtain's that separates the Hekal and Vestibule from the Holy of Holies. What he found apparently was shocking because what he found was . . . nothing. Most people worship items and concentrate on them in order to visualize their paradise and faith. These people mocked the Jews. But some people admired this new way of worship. Worshiping an absence where you fill it with your faith and beliefs. Personally I settle with the later group. It goes along the lines as the cliche seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing. I think if there's something you really and truly believe in, then it should be based on belief and not items.
ReplyDeleteThere are numerous references to the Mount of Olives (east of Jerusalem) in the bible - and many Christians (and I believe, Jews) believe that when Christ returns, He will return to this area. The bible has a couple of references: Acts, 1 - that Christ will return to the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14 - a prophecy that Christ's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. Do people in Jerusalem believe this and understand the significance of this area? Can you see the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem?
ReplyDeleteThis post really relates to me. I am not a religious person but I do believe in a higher power. I understand a lot to do with religion but I choose not to pick a church to attend. I cannot however imagine going to a place that is said to be holy and not be able to see anything. To have such a strong belief in something to not have to see anything of substance to know that it is true. The absence of an object is what causes me to question. However to know that others believe is powerful enough to make me want to go and experience it myself. Lucky you!!!
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about the pilgrims filling the absences of Jerusalem with their faith. Though I have never ventured to the empty tomb, I would love to go there if only to exemplify my faith. I would like to see inside the church as well! Do people attend the church as they would attend a church here?
ReplyDeleteWhen you read about the ringing of the bells of the Holy Sepulchre you just think of normal church bells. In reality when listening to the bells I realized how much more it means to the people of Jerusalem than just some old church bells. The bells stand for a huge part of their culture and religious values. Thanks for posting these great pictures and videos!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah that it's beautiful that, though, there seems to be so much emptiness in such a place, the meaning behind the emptiness is what fills it up with our faith. I would love to go there and be around the places I have heard about all my life where the story of my faith first began. Side note: The image of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is amazing. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteThe sound of the bells of Holy Sepulchre was beautiful. When I heard the bells, I just imagined what I would feel if I was there on the grounds of where my God, Jesus Christ, was crucified.
ReplyDeleteListening to the sound of the bells was beautiful I could only imagine actually being there and hearing them. The church is very pretty I am a big fan of old style architecture. I wonder what the inside of the church looks like, I'm sure it is equally beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing presentation on the sights and sounds of the Church of the Holy Secular. It really created an experience of being at the site while not actually physically being there.
ReplyDeleteKeep these amazing posts coming!
The Bells of the Holy Sepulchre seemed to really set the mood for the architecture style when I looked at the pictures again. Everything is really unique and beautiful to examine in the construction of the the church.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine being in a classroom for 12 hours when there's so much to see just right outside the building! Do they use the bells for any other event? Imagine coming outside and hearing the bells after you've been married that would be amazing, kinda cliche but I think it would be great!
ReplyDeletethe building is real nice, i think i have seen this kind of building back to china, they are mosque, are they the same thing?
ReplyDeleteI find the images of the church very interesting. I'm catholic therefore I have been around a few older churches, so I have always been interested in the architecture of old churches. I also found the bells in the church to be very impressive. I wonder how far away you would be able to hear the bells from?
ReplyDeleteThe clip of the bells was interesting, I feel like they give you an idea of life in the city today and long ago. Not sure if its the same bells, but it kind of transports you back to that time when people listened to the bells and gathered together for worship. It just gives a bit of insight into how life for the average person might have been like.
ReplyDeleteI feel s if the idea of absence definitely plays a significant role in not only the pligrmiages of those whom went to Jerusalem, but in all pilgrimages. Many must have felt incomplete and that going to the holy sites would be the only thing that would make them complete. The people on pilgrmage were absent of almost everything that they knew (family, home, friends). Without such things it could be hard for one to go on especially when feelings of lonlinesses and emptiness set in. I can definitly see how filling in that absence with faith would almost be necessary for those on pilgrimage.
ReplyDeleteDoes Sounds of the bells surround the entire city? if so that is cool. As I guess the bells would also been means of time in those days. Does these bell ring at every hour? Over all the feeling of loneliness or absence quite think topic in such a place. I feel that having so many people around and still feeling the loneliness is a little different and mystical to my understanding.
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool to just even see a picture of the Holy Sepulchre. I can't even imagine seeing it in person. Simply amazing.
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