A Simple Ladder Left Behind
At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a wooden ladder rests on a ledge above the church’s main entrance. It appears ordinary, yet it has remained in place for nearly three centuries.
Why No One Moves It
The church is shared by six Christian denominations under a strict agreement known as the Status Quo, established in 1757 by the Ottoman Empire. Any alteration to the church requires unanimous approval, but no group has taken responsibility for the ladder or agreed to move it.
Attempts to Remove It
Over the years, there have been a few instances where the ladder was moved. In 1981 and 1997, unknown individuals temporarily removed it, but it was always returned to its original position.
A Fixture in History
Made of cedar wood, the ladder is visible in an 1854 engraving and appears in historical photographs. Today, it remains untouched, a rare object frozen in place by a centuries-old agreement that still governs the church’s operations.
At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a wooden ladder has remained on a ledge for nearly 270 years. It seems ordinary, yet no one dares to move it. The reason lies in an 18th-century agreement that still governs the church, keeping the ladder frozen in place. 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/JPOM6s3KrL
— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) January 29, 2025