Muslim Families Have Guarded Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Centuries

by · Greek City Times

For more than 800 years, two Muslim families in Jerusalem have held a remarkable responsibility at one of Christianity’s holiest sites, safeguarding its keys and opening and closing its doors.

The tradition centres on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which Christians revere as the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

The responsibility is shared between the Joudeh and Nuseibeh families, whose roles have been passed down through generations. Their involvement helps preserve a delicate balance between the Christian denominations that share the church, including Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities.

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The arrangement is commonly traced to 1187, when Muslim ruler Saladin recaptured Jerusalem. Entrusting control of the church’s entrance to Muslim families helped maintain neutrality amid longstanding disputes between the Christian communities over access, authority and ownership.

Under the centuries-old arrangement, the Joudeh family safeguards the church’s large, historic iron key, while the Nuseibeh family is responsible for using it to open and close the massive wooden doors.

The key, which measures approximately 30 centimetres, remains central to the daily ritual. Opening the entrance involves using a small wooden ladder to reach the lock, continuing a practice shaped by centuries of tradition.

The doors are opened each morning and closed each evening in coordination with the church’s clergy. Opening times vary seasonally, traditionally beginning around 4am in winter and 5am in summer.

The arrangement stands as a distinctive example of interfaith cooperation in Jerusalem, where religious history, competing claims and shared sacred spaces have shaped life in the Old City for centuries.

Through their inherited responsibilities, the Joudeh and Nuseibeh families continue to uphold a tradition connecting Muslim custodianship with one of Christianity’s most significant places of worship.

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