Everything Everywhere Daily · Friday, September 11, 2026
Around Palm Sunday in 1757, Greek Orthodox clergy and supporters violently took control of parts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This confrontation led to an Ottoman decree that significantly strengthened the Greek Orthodox Church's rights within the site, while diminishing those of the Franciscans.
“The Greek Orthodox clergy and their supporters launched a violent takeover inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.”
“Contemporary Catholic accounts described Orthodox participants attacking Franciscan installations, destroying lamps and decorations, and driving the Franciscans from parts of the church.”
“The Ottoman government intervened and issued a decree allocating control of the principal Christian holy sites.”