The Sacralization Process of Jerusalem in Christianity

Year 2020, Issue: 14, 141 - 170, 30.06.2020

Muhammed Güngör

https://doi.org/10.18498/amailad.653690

Cited By: 1

Abstract

A place considered sacred by the followers of any religion is actually no different from other places in terms of being a space. However, a space considered sacred in time is at the center of a society's religious life, as well as it is a place where gives direction and new meaning to human life. The most beautiful example of this is the city of Jerusalem. In Christianity, Jerusalem is considered a sacred city as in Judaism and Islam. However, Jerusalem became holy for Christians centuries after the death of Jesus Christ. Because, due to the difference in interpretation there is ambiguity about whether Jerusalem was holy in the early days of Christianity. Therefore, the holiness of Jerusalem cannot be mentioned in the early periods of Christian history. On the other hand, many centuries after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, there were discussions among the Christian clergy about the sanctity of Jerusalem. In spite of all objections, Jerusalem regained its sanctity for Christians over time. The fact that the historical events that took effect in shaping the Christian faith in this city, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built on the tomb of Jesus Christ, and the adoption of Jerusalem as one of the pilgrimage centers by Christians were effective in Jerusalem’s gaining sanctity.

Summary

The places considered sacred are actually no different from other places in terms of being a place. However, the coming about of an important religious event in one place makes it different from other places and sanctifies it. These places are thought to be closer to God than other places. In this context, Jerusalem draws attention because it is considered sacred by Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Under the holiness attributed to this city lies the fact that God, the only sacred being according to these religions, gives a special value to this town compared to other parts of the world. On the other hand, considering the history of Christianity, it is seen that the attitudes of Christians towards Jerusalem are not same. Accordingly, it can be said that there are two main views in the history of Christianity, one defending that Jerusalem is not theologically sacred and the other one defending that it is sacred.

According to the view that claimed that Jerusalem was not sacred to Christians, Jesus took a negative attitude towards Jerusalem. Accordingly, Jesus hinted that Jerusalem had lost its blessing. It is stated that this negative opinion of Jesus about Jerusalem became clearer in Paul's letters. In addition, Eusebius stated that the importance attributed to Jerusalem in the Old Testament did not continue after the New Testament. According to him, the importance of Jerusalem has ceased.

In 70 AD, the destruction of Solomon's Temple and Jerusalem was understood as that these places were not no longer important for Christians. According to this, nowhere else in the world is considered sacred to Christians than any other place. Only the existence and holiness of Jesus were believed. The importance and holiness of Jesus has replaced the importance and holiness of space.

On the other hand, the negative perception of the sanctity of Jerusalem in the early periods of Christianity began to change as a result of the travels of Constantine's mother Helena to Jerusalem and its surroundings in 326 AD after Constantine had accepted Christianity. Especially the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher changed this perception deeply. Thus, opinions that suggest the opposite of the above negative views about the holiness of Jerusalem have taken their place in the Christian literature.

Cyril emphasized that the divine importance attributed to Jerusalem was a historical phenomenon, but it was not definitely final. He pointed out that important events related to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit occurred in this city. On the other hand, Cyril argued that the term “Holy City” mentioned in Matthew has been the very city of Jerusalem. In this sense, he expressed that Jerusalem, in a theological context, has been special to God and is truly a "holy city". Cyril claimed that Jerusalem should be given a natural advantage. Throughout the Middle Ages, Jerusalem was considered as the true homeland of all Christians.

Despite all the opposition, Jerusalem regained its sanctity over time. As a matter of fact, although the Church adopted the understanding of Heavenly Jerusalem in the Kingdom of God, it also claimed today's Jerusalem in Palestine. Because the Church believed that the value given to Jerusalem would provide political benefits and it has been effective in its development and strengthening being a religious institution.

From the point of view of Christians, the holiness and importance of Jerusalem, which is so important, is based on three interrelated main reasons. Firstly, important events in Jesus' life occurred in this city. Secondly, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which is considered the holiest shrine for Christians, was built here. Thirdly, Jerusalem has become one of the important pilgrimage centres in Christianity.

First of all, it should be noted that the importance of Jerusalem for Christians comes from the fact that it hosted the great events of the New Testament. Jerusalem is a place where important events are effective in the formation of Christian thought, from the childhood of Jesus to his death, even from his resurrection to the sky. In the acceptance of a city as a sacred, important events that occur in the period when a religion began to emerge are effective. When it comes to Christianity, it is seen that very important religious events took place in Jerusalem.

The Holy Sepulcher, on which the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built, is the name of the grave where Jesus was buried after his death and is located in Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built after the visit of Constantine's mother Helena to Jerusalem. After the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christians gave importance to rituals here.

The New Testament did not include any responsibility for the pilgrimage, as the Old Testament and the Qur'an ordered. Therefore, there was no pilgrimage in Christian life in the first period. However, over time, the Sacred Places were considered especially sacred to Christians because of Jesus' passage over these lands. These lands contain signs that "God is in the body". Naturally, the Holy Land serves to remind God that was once believed to be walking on earth. As a result, the places where Jesus' life was passed were considered sacred for Christians and became one of the important pilgrimage centers. Christian pilgrims, especially in the Byzantine period, showed great respect to the lands of their beliefs. Although many church fathers tried to discourage in the early periods, Christian pilgrims visited Jerusalem in particular. However, this negative attitude changed greatly with the fourth century. As a result of that, Christian pilgrims from all over the world have visited temples that are considered sacred, and especially those newly discovered and believed to be related to Jesus.

Keywords

History of Religions, Jerusalem, Christianity, Jesus Christ, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Hıristiyanlıkta Kudüs’ün Kutsallaşma Süreci

Abstract

Herhangi bir dinin müntesiplerince kutsal kabul edilen bir yerin aslında mekân olma açısından diğer yerlerden farkı yoktur. Ancak, sonradan kutsal addedilen bir mekân, bir toplumun dinî hayatının merkezinde yer alan, insan hayatına yön veren ve anlam kazandıran bir özelliğe de sahip olmaktadır. Bunun en güzel örneği Kudüs şehridir. Kudüs Yahudilikte ve İslam’da olduğu gibi Hıristiyanlıkta da kutsal kabul edilen bir şehirdir. Ancak Kudüs’ün Hıristiyanlar için kutsallık kazanması İsa Mesih’in ölümünden asırlar sonra gerçekleşmiştir. Zira yorum farklılığından ötürü Kudüs’ün Hıristiyanlığın ilk dönemlerinde kutsal olup olmadığı hususunda belirsizlik bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle Hıristiyan tarihinin ilk dönemlerinde Kudüs’ün kutsallığından bahsedilemez. Hatta Kudüs’ün kutsallığı hususunda, İsa Mesih’in çarmıha gerilmesinden asırlar sonra Hıristiyan din adamları arasında tartışmalar da yaşanmıştır. Kudüs, bütün karşı çıkmalara rağmen Hıristiyanlar için kutsallığını zamanla tekrar kazanmıştır. Kudüs’ün kutsallığını kazanmasında Hıristiyan inancının şekillenmesinde etkili olan tarihi olayların bu şehirde gerçekleşmesi, İsa Mesih’in mezarı üzerine inşa edilen Kutsal Kabir Kilisesi’nin bu şehirde bulunması ve Hıristiyanların Kudüs’ü hac merkezlerinden biri olarak benimsemeleri etkili olmuştur.

Keywords

Dinler Tarihi, Kudüs, Hıristiyanlık, İsa Mesih, Kutsal Kabir Kilisesi

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