The holiest site in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Resurrection in Jerusalem – and in the Holy Land and in the whole world – is the Lord’s Tomb itself – that place, where our Lord Jesus Christ was buried for three days and resurrected from the dead.

   The Lord’s Tomb is in the central part of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and takes the appearance of a majestic chapel, called the Kouvouklion, or Edicule, comprised of two parts. The word "kouvouklion" is a originally a Latin word (cubiculum) adapted in the Greek language (κουβούκλιον), which in English would be translated as "bedchamber," "royal treasury," or "canopy." This holy edifice was originally constructed by the holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Empress Helen, but after many instances of destruction, recreation, and fires, it exists in its current architectural form from the beginning of the 19th century. The entire edifice is architecturally adorned, having a multitude, both inside and out, of expensive lamps, and assumes a majestic air, but which at the current time is covered in scaffolding, as is the rest of the church, undergoing major renovations.

   The Kouvouklion is comprised of two chambers. The first chamber is called the Chapel of the Angel. This is a relatively high, small chapel, into which could fit only a few people, and in the center of which is a marble vase, in which is preserved a piece of that true stone placed at the very tomb of the Lord. Placed on this vase for the celebration of the Liturgy is a gilded disk, which serves as the altar table. From the Chapel of the Angel there is a low, small opening, through which one must pass by stooping over, and which leads to the Lord’s Tomb itself – a cave lined with marble, with a bed the length of a man against its wall. Here lay the Lord’s body. No more than four people can kneel at the side of the tomb at one time. The whole cave is covered in hanging lamps and candles, lit by worshipers. Three liturgies are served in the Lord’s Tomb daily: at twelve midnight the Greek Orthodox, then, after it, the Armenian-Gregorian, and in the morning – the Roman Catholic. During the day and at other times, worshipers can enter the Lord’s Tomb for veneration, entering in line. I was able to venerate the Lord’s Tomb on very day of my arrival to the Holy City, and was there another three times, and was present and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries at the nighttime Greek liturgy, which was celebrated in Greek and Slavonic by Bishop Chrysanthos to singing by Greek and Slavonic choirs. When everyone approaches to venerate the Lord’s tomb, one can pray there, but only to one’s self, silently, remaining there for only a short time. Despite the fact that this was not the Paschal season, it is appropriate at this place, which is the source of our resurrection, to mentally sing "Christ is Risen" and those holy Paschal hymns that the worshipper can recall. We also tried to prayerfully commemorate there all of our co-brother hierarchs, co-pastors, all of our acquaintances and friends, and all those who charged us to pray for them.