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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Giovanna Dell'orto

An AP reporter spends the night locked inside Jerusalem's holiest church with clergy and pilgrims

Night at Holy Sepulcher - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The enormous doors were pushed shut, the clanking bolts secured from the outside and several clergy, pilgrims and one journalist — me — were locked for the night inside one of Christianity's holiest sites in Jerusalem.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built over the spots where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead.

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