The Garden Tomb’s Story

  • The Garden Tomb is a site of Christian worship and witness located in the heart of historic Jerusalem, just outside the Old City walls. Within this peaceful and contemplative garden there are several antiquities of interest, including an ancient Jewish tomb which many believe is the site of Jesus of Nazareth’s burial and resurrection.

    In order to preserve and maintain this special site, the grounds of the garden were purchased in 1894 by The Garden Tomb (Jerusalem) Association, a Charitable Trust based in the United Kingdom. The association is comprised of people from many different denominational and national backgrounds, united by the glorious message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The site is maintained by volunteers that come from around the globe and join a team of local Palestinians and Israelis.

    The Garden Tomb’s Story
  • The Garden Tomb’s Story

    According to the scriptures, Jesus was crucified in a place named “the Skull” (Golgotha in Aramaic). In the mid-19th century, several Christian scholars suggested that the rocky escarpment, which can be viewed from the garden, marked the place of the Messiah’s crucifixion.

    They noted its proximity to a main city gate, its association with executions according to local tradition, and its physical resemblance to a skull.

    In the gospels we read that “at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no-one had ever been laid” (John 19:41). Archeological evidence, including an ancient winepress, suggests that this place was an agricultural garden in those days, and inside the garden an ancient Jewish tomb has been found, perhaps the empty tomb of Jesus.

  • For over 120 years, the Garden Tomb has shared the story of the Messiah’s crucifixion and resurrection with countless visitors from across the globe. Some believe that this garden is the setting of those gospel events.

    However, the question as to whether this is the same tomb in which the Messiah was buried is ultimately unimportant. What is important is that visitors to this garden have an encounter with the living Messiah today. This is our prayer and ministry.

    The Garden Tomb’s Story

View Our Photo Galleries

Download our Information Leaflets

Information leaflets providing a detailed tour of the garden are available in many languages. If there is a language we do not offer, but for which you are interested in providing a translation, please contact us.