"Today we celebrate the importance of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre as the centre of the world -- and of life itself, because here Christ died, and rose to life again, leaving an empty tomb." With these words Friar Artemio Vitores, Custodial Vicar of the Holy Land, began his homily before the Edicule on the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica, on Friday, July 15th. It was an anniversary too, for a restored Basilca had been inaugurated on July 15th 1149, fifty years after the Crusaders took Jerusalem. It was then that Bishop Fulcherio had an inscription placed at the principal entrance of the Basilica, reading "This Holy Place was sanctified by the blood of Christ, and our consecration can add nothing to its holiness."
Friar ARTEMIO VITORES
CUSTODIAL VICAR OF THE HOLY LAND
From here originate all the world's streets, and each cathedral: from here emanate the highways of preaching and mission. And the mission is this: Go out into the world, and proclaim what you have seen and heard. What have you seen ? That Jesus is not here -- he is risen. Go and announce this. This is fundamental to an understanding of the event.
The celebration was attended by many priests, nuns and pilgrims outside the Edicule,within which an altar had been prepared in the vestibule ajoining the tomb. This space is known as the Chapel of the Angel, and is was here that the principal celebrants gathered.
The event recalled the Crusader presence in the Holy Land, when, for more than a century, pilgrims could visit the Holy Places here in safety. Today too it is possible to come here without fear, the Arab Spring having had no influence on daily life here in the Holy Land. And so following a few weeks of uncertainty, resulting in a sharp fall in the number of tourists, figures are now back to normal, and pilgrims have returned to the streets of the Holy City.
