The Golgotha and Jesus’ Crucifixion

Golgotha is the name given in the New Testament to the site of the crucifixion of Jesus. The name derives from the Aramaic word for “skull.” Since the 4th century AD, a hill in Jerusalem’s Old City has been identified and revered as Jesus’s execution site. Since 335 AD, the Golgotha has been part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest sites in the Christian world. The Greek-Orthodox church maintained the Golgotha and decorated it in the traditional Byzantine style. A glass floor protects the top of the Golgotha spur, except for a small section where one can put his hand through a metal disk and touch an indentation in the rock. This cavity is believed to be the very spot where the cross used for the crucifixion of Jesus was positioned.

Visiting the Golgotha

Visting and Golgotha can be done during the opening hours of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. To avoid the crowds, it is recommended to visit the site early in the morning.

Visiting the Golgotha can be combined in a tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other highlights of Jerusalem’s Old City.