The ancient wooden entrance doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem have been removed in late February 2026 for restoration, uncovering nearly 800 years of layered history at Christianity’s holiest site. The intervention, part of the ongoing flooring restoration, was approved by consensus among the Christian communities that jointly own and use the basilica.
Representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, and the Armenian, Coptic, Syriac Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches agreed to the work after visible structural deterioration was observed. This marks the first repair of the doors in more than two centuries; the last documented restoration dates to 1810, commissioned by the Greek Orthodox Church after a fire.
Restoration efforts revealed traces of a sealed “twin doorway,” echoing dramatic moments in history. After Saladin’s conquest of Jerusalem in 1187, the basilica’s doors and rotunda windows were walled up, and Christians were required to pay a tax to enter. In the early 14th century, religious remained inside the closed church to ensure continuous prayer, receiving supplies through a small hatch. In 1832, Muhammad Ali of Egypt ordered the doors opened daily and abolished the entrance tax.
Temporary panels now cover the entrance to preserve its familiar appearance. The traditional role of the Muslim Nusseibeh and Joudeh families—entrusted with the key in 1246—remains to be clarified during the works. The doors have also witnessed modern tensions, including a 2018 closure over tax disputes and shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restoration stands as both preservation and testimony to centuries of Christian endurance.