PaRT 3: The FootPrints of Crusade

Millions of people have been slain WITHOUT A SINGLE DROP OF MERCY and countless attacks to capture this land could never meet or match the damages done by the Crusade. Derived from the Latin word "crux" or cross, this was a war against the Turkish control which spanned over five hundred years with nine military expeditions. Namely the Peasant's Crusade, The Crusade of Princes and last, which is probably the most tragic one, The Children's Crusade that was led by a young visionary who claimed if the expedition was fought by children and the poor, God will be on their side. Ironically, many died even before reaching the Hold Land and of course, they lost battle ending the control of the Christians over the western region. This war campaign was catalysed by the ulcerous greed and ugly manipulation by the papal authorities.

The Holy Bible has mentioned this land in its pages for over 600 times, probably due to the immense importance it holds as the place Jesus Christ was crucified and later resurrected. Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a structure that has been built to remind the future generation that veneration and reverence is a must in the place. The church was built by the Helena, the mother of Constantine, in 330 A.D. in order to commemorate the traditional site of Christ's crucifixion and burial.

The Sepulchre or "tomb" was ironically was built by a wealthy Jew Joseph of Arimathea as his final resting place. Little did he know, the tomb would "temporarily" accommodate one of the greatest icon of the millennium. Even the steps of Christ as he carried the cross has been immortalized and Christians from all over the earth to retrace the steps taken which is known as Vio Dolorosa or the "Way of Sorrow". The churchwas said to be a colossal and the most grandiose church ever to grace the earth at that time. Queen was actually persuaded by the Jerusalem patriarch, Bishop Macarius during the ecumenical council to take the Christians in Jerusalem under her wings a year earlier.

However the dark and gloomy sanctuary we see now today is the remainder of the original structure which was repeatedly ravaged and repaired over the next 400 years, initiated by the Persians on 614. It never reclaimed or returned to its former unshaken legacy. The Crusaders however resolved this unending turmoil by uniting all the smaller chapels and shrines under one roof though in a less elaborate manner which too 50 years to complete.