WATCH: Pilgrims face closed doors at Church of the Holy Sepulchre
"We came here all the way from Chicago, ten thousand miles, hoping to see where Christ died and we were so disappointed," says upset tourist.
By REUTERSUpdated: FEBRUARY 26, 2018 19:04Disappointed pilgrims pray outside closed doors of Holy Sepulchre Church, February 26, 2018 (Reuters)
Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem voiced frustration and disappointment on Monday because the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was closed. Church leaders decided to shut the church in protest against a new Israeli tax policy and a proposed land expropriation law which they called an unprecedented attack on Christians in the Holy Land.Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian church leaders said the holy site, a popular stop for pilgrims and where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, would remain closed until further notice."We came here all the way from Chicago, ten thousand miles, hoping to see where Christ died and we were so disappointed, you know, that they closed unexpectedly like this," said Roseanne a visiting tourist."Well, honestly I believe they (the church leaders) do have the right to protest and I'm for them on that. But it is disappointing for the pilgrims, Christian pilgrims travelling all the way and meeting with closed doors of the church," said Marshall, also from the US.After the protest move, an Israeli cabinet committee delayed by a week its scheduled consideration on Sunday of a bill that would allow the state to expropriate land in Jerusalem sold by churches to private real estate firms in recent years.The stated aim of the bill is to protect homeowners against the possibility that private companies will not extend their leases of land on which their houses or apartments stand.The churches are major property owners in the city. They say such a law would make it harder for them to find buyers for church-owned land - sales that help to cover operating costs of their religious institutions.