Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem reopens after closure due to Israel's war restrictions

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem reopened after a 40-day closure imposed by Israeli authorities, allowing worshippers to resume prayers. The reopening follows a ceasefire declaration by U.S. President Donald Trump amid regional tensions with Iran.

Reuters

9 April 2026 at 10:03:32

Worshippers gather at the Edicule, which houses what is traditionally believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after it was opened to the public following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 9, 2026.

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was reopened on Thursday (April 9) after a 40-day closure by Israeli authorities, due to security risks from the Israel and U.S. war on Iran.

Christian worshippers, clergymen along with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III gathered and prayed inside the church, expressing their gratefulness to be able to visit it after the long closure.

'Honestly it is an indescribable feeling because our fasting cannot be complete without the Holy Sepulchre church,' said Lourd Azraq, a worshipper from Jerusalem.

Israel had ordered the closure of Holy sites on February 28 following the attacks on Iran as part of its security measures.

The reopening of the holy site came a day after a ceasefire declaration towards Iran by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (April 8).

Production: Sinan Abu Mayzer, Lara Afghani/Reuters