I have been asked about the ceremony of opening and closing the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. To be honest, in some way this shows us Christianity at it's worst.For centuries, different denominations have fought over control of this historic church. If you follow the news in Israel, about once a year you'll read about some fistfight breaking out between the priests two different denominations over some dispute of control or access inside the church. It's flat out embarrassing. These disputes trace back centuries.
In the 12th century, to end the fighting, the Arab conqueror Saladin entrusted the key to the Muslim Nuseibeh and Joudeh families. They are the only ones who can open and close the only door in and out of the church.
Eight centuries later, the 10-inch metal key is still safeguarded in the house of the Joudeh family. Every morning at dawn, Wajeeh Nuseibeh, who took over the job of doorkeeper from his father 20 years ago, picks up the key and opens the massive wooden church doors. Every night at 8:00 p.m. he returns to shut and lock them.
Prior to 1831 the opening and closing of the door was carried out by these families only after the payment of a tax which was abolished by Ibrahim Pasha in 1831.
Muslim control of the key, however, does not mean Muslims control of the Church. Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Orthodox groups share the main control of the church, while the Ethiopian, Egyptian Copt and Syrian churches still maintain a presence in chapels and on the roof.Like just about everything else there, this door opening has turned into ritual. You can read a detailed description here:
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/jhs/TSspclos.html
If you want to go and see this, you may find that it's easier to get to the closing than the opening. It takes place about a half hour after sunset (get there a little before to be sure).
As the closing begins, members of the different orders gather inside and make a few arrangements, like who will be there to help open in the morning. There are always people from each church locked in all night, along with some visitors.
Here are a few pictures of the closing:
