To all those interested in spending overnight in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

• The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is normally closed at night. The doors close at 7:00 PM (November – February), at 8.30 PM (September and March), and at 9:00 PM (April to August). The doors open at 4:00 AM, all year round (or 5:00 AM when the legal hour is enforced). On Saturday nights (and on certain special occasions) the doors reopen at 11:00 PM (or midnight, when the legal hour is enforced) and they remain open for the rest of the night.

• A limited number of pilgrims are allowed to stay inside when the doors are closed. The limit for the Catholics (Latins) is 15 persons.

• Booking for an overnight stay in the Church has to be done on a personal basis in the Latin sacristy of the Church. No one, except for the Franciscan Friars, are authorized to accept bookings. We can arrange the bookings for you, but they can only be submitted and accepted one week in advance.

• Pilgrims who stay overnight must be present in the entrance of the Church no later than fifteen (15) minutes before closing time. One should remember that, during winter months, the Church is very cold. One is advised to bring warm clothing. Toilets are available for pilgrims in the small courtyard close to the “Arches of the Virgin”.

• Pilgrims should remember that your time inside is to pray. No eating and drinking are allowed in the Church. It is prohibited to bring bedding or sleeping bags with the intention of sleeping in the Church. Pilgrims should remember that staying overnight entails fatigue, and they are to come with good intentions.

• Praying in the Holy Tomb is allowed from closing time until the beginning of official prayers of the Greek Orthodox at 11.30 pm (11:00 PM on Saturday nights). After that time, Catholics are no longer allowed in the Tomb. Pilgrims can continue praying on Calvary or at the Latin area of the Church (St. Mary Magdalen Chapel). Pilgrims can also enter the Blessed Sacrament Chapel during the Divine Office of the Franciscans (between 11.30 PM and 12:30 AM). They are not to disturb the Friars in their prayers or the other Orthodox communities during their Divine Liturgies. The Friars cannot offer breviaries to pilgrims. They only have limited quantities of breviaries in Latin for their own use.

• Elderly and fragile persons must remember that staying overnight is not beneficial to their health. Once the Church closes, there is no way of getting out if one feels sick.

• The Franciscan Friars do not shoulder any responsibility, or liability, for any kind of mishap or accident that pilgrims might incur when they stay overnight. Pilgrims stay overnight at their own risk.

You to be up for 48 hours. Your average day begins at 7:00 A.M., and ends at the Hotel at 6:00 P.M. After dinner, you will make your way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Upon exiting in the morning, you will return to the Hotel in time for Breakfast and begin Touring. (Note: There are no refunds for any days you choose to opt out of.) **Note: Post-Covid – some regulations and restrictions may take place which can hinder the overnight schedule from taking place. We will do all we can to ensure every request is met, but we cannot guarantee.**