Notice the ladder on the ledge of the entrance to the Church. Interestingly, it has been the subject of a 150-year quarrel between two of the six denominations managing and administering the Church. This goes back to the 1852 Mandate passed by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Great when he handed the Church over to them. Fights and quarrels have occurred over the boundaries of administration and control. Hence, it was decided that nothing moves or changes unless all the groups agree to them, hence the ladder's fate. The six denominations are the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholics, Egyptian Copts, Ethiopian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox. Before Ottoman rule, the Church was under the sole purview of the Franciscan Friars after St Francis came to the Holy Land. |
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