The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been closed. It is the holiest site in the Christian world, housing, according to church tradition, Golgotha (the site of Jesus’ crucifixion) and the tomb from which he rose again. The church was closed on February 28, 2026, amid the escalation of the war in the Middle East and tightened security measures.
Since then, entry to the church has been completely blocked, and strict restrictions have been imposed on visits to key holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City.
For the first time in many years, services inside the basilica have been suspended for several weeks.
Prayers are usually held in the church almost continuously. Services are conducted by the three Christian communities that jointly administer the sanctuary: the Greek Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church.
Currently, services, liturgies, and sermons have been temporarily suspended, and the church is empty.
Israeli authorities cited security concerns for the church’s closure. The conflict in the region has been accompanied by rocket fire, and in recent days, fragments from the rockets have fallen in various areas of Jerusalem, including near the Old City.
According to church officials, one fragment landed just a few hundred meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, injuring at least one person.
These incidents have heightened concerns about the security of the historic shrine.
Even during previous wars and political crises, services at the church typically continued, albeit on a limited basis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, access for pilgrims was restricted, but clergy still celebrated services inside the basilica.
Christian hierarchs are negotiating with Israeli authorities and hope to receive permission to hold at least Easter services inside the church, even if access for pilgrims remains restricted. The Church of the Holy Resurrection is often called the “Mother Church of Christianity” because it is directly linked to key events in the Gospel: the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
Therefore, its closure amid the ongoing conflict was an event that resonated widely throughout the Christian world.