Visiting the Tomb of Christ, the Holy Sepulchre

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio

In this 14 minute podcast, Anna Mitchell of the Sonrise Morning Show interviews Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio about his numerous visits to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The Gospel of John tells us that, after the body of Jesus was taken from the cross, it was laid in a new tomb, close to the place where he was crucified. Yet, when people visit the Holy Land, they are surprised to find out that the tomb is only a stones throw away from the top of Golgotha.

Empty Tomb of Christ – Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Dr. Italy shares what it is like to visit these places which are both located inside the same massive building, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built in the fourth century by the Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother. St. Helena, and reconstructed in the 12th century by the Crusaders.

He explains how it is that we know this to be the actual spot of Jesus’ tomb and why the 19th century “Garden Tomb” cannot be the burial site of Jesus.

Jerusalem Pilgrimage Experience

Dr. Italy, who has visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on thirty different trips to the Holy Land, describes the experience of pilgrims praying for one another as they wait for their own personal moment of prayer in the tomb of Christ, located in a small shrine building called the Edicule, nestled underneath the Dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Praying here, ground zero in the history of salvation, has resulted in many graces for our pilgrims over the years, including some dramatic physical healings.

This podcast is the third in a series on Holy Week in the Holy Land.

For the first episode in the series, click here.

For more on the last days of Jesus’ life, visit the Holy Week section of the Crossroads Initiative Library.

To subscribe to Dr. Italy’s weekly podcast and never miss an episode, visit http://crossroadsinitiative.libsyn.com/ or the Catholic Heritage with Dr Italy podcasts on iTunes

For more resources for the Easter Season, see the EASTER section of the Crossroads Initiative Library.