On the east side of Jerusalem there is a deep valley and ravine called the Kidron Valley or the Valley of the Cedron. Part of it is also called the Valley of Josaphat. There are olive groves and cemeteries on the other side of the valley. The Garden of Gethsemani was an olive grove.
Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Mary
North of the Garden of Gethsemani there are some first century tombs cut into the rock. One of these tombs was the tomb where Mary was laid. It is therefore from this location that the assumption took place.
In 455 AD the first century burial caves were expanded by cutting out the rock into the form of a cross with Mary’s tomb in the centre. In the 6th century a church was constructed above it, but this church was destroyed in 614 AD. Crusaders rebuilt the church in 1130 but this church was also destroyed in 1187 AD.
What is left now is a courtyard with a 12th century porch and a stairway of 48 steps leading underground. The 20th step leads into the fifth century church cut into the rock in a cross shape. The tomb of Mary is a bench hewn from the rock. At one time the walls were painted with frescoes and marble slabs marked the spot.
During the first centuries AD many pilgrims went to see Mary’s tomb. Fourth century writings place her tomb at Gethsemani. Fifth century pilgrims went to venerate Mary’s empty tomb outside Jerusalem locating it in the Valley of Josaphat.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the site of Calvary where the crucifixion of Jesus took place and the site of the garden and newly hewn cave where Jesus was buried. Helena mother of Emperor Constantine (reigned 306-337 AD) found the site of the tomb of Jesus and Constantine had the church built above it.
It is very unusual that a burial cave would be located within the city, but Joseph of Arimathea, a rich member of the Sanhedrin owned the garden, and he had commissioned a cave to be hewn for his own burial in the garden.
What this means is that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ took place within the city of Jerusalem.
Merry and True 