"Holy Sepulchre"; Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Roman
Catholics, Copts, Ethiopians and Syrian Orthodox all share rights to the church. The
original Church was built by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, after destroying
the temple built by Herodian 132-135. Herodian built his temple in an attempt to erase any
traces of Christianity and dedicated it to the gods of Jupiter, Junon and Venus. But most
of what we see today is the work of the Crusaders, who in the year 1149 built the great
basilica over Calvary and the empty Tomb of Jesus |