“The Immovable Ladder”
The “Immovable ladder” is the nickname given to a wooden ladder placed against the right window above the main entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Over the years, it became a symbol of the politics behind the church’s maintenance.
History of the “Immovable Ladder”
The ladder was placed at its specific position in the 18th century so the Armenians could enter the church’s second floor and avoid paying an entry fee. The earliest record of this ladder is an engraving from 1728, and the earliest mention of it is an Ottoman document from 1757. After the affairs in the Church of Nativity (that, among others, caused the Crimean War) in 1851, the Ottoman issued a detailed document (Firman) that declared the custody of each denomination in the church and regulated the schedules of the various processions. It is firmly followed today, known as the “Status Quo” document. Being so, the ladder symbolizes the tension between the different denominations that co-run the Church.
And Then The Ladder Moved
There is a common saying in the Middle East that there is an exception to every rule, and the ladder is no exception. On a few rare occasions, the ladder was recorded to be moved for a short time. The last time was recorded by us in February 2009.
A tour of the Holy Sepulchre can be integrated into a day tour of Jerusalem.
