ORTHODOX HOLY LAND
As you walk into the Church of the Holy Sepluchre you will see on your right hand side a steep staircase. This leads to a floor 4.5m above ground level where is located the place Christ was crucified known as Golgotha.
Matthew 27:32-35
Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
GOLGOTHA
There is glass covering the rocks of the original Golgotha and an alter table above the hole the Crucifix was placed. The alter table has inscribed "Master Christ, with the Holy Blood pouring from the Your Holy Side and your Life Giving Sacrifice, on the one hand has stopped the idols and on the other the whole earth invokes Your Sacrifice with praise.
Under the alter table is a sliver disc with a hole in the middle. Tradition says that this is the spot where Christ was crucified. The silver disc has etched five scenes of Christ's martyrdom.
To the left is the Prothesis where the Orthodox Priest prepares Holy Communion with an inscription "Christ our God, You worked the salvation on the earth, extending Your Holy Arms on the Cross.
One of two alter tables for the Latins.
The Orthodox faithful light their candles after venerating.
One of two alter tables for the Latins with a mosiac of the Crucifiction behind.
People come from all over the world to venerate the hole that the Holy Cross was placed. Traditionally people will kneel down and venerate the hole under the alter table and bless items.