“Secrets of the ‘Immovable Ladder’: Why This Sturdy Fixture Holds the Key to Jerusalem’s Religious Tensions”
Ever heard of the “immovable ladder” in Jerusalem? No, seriously—there’s actually a ladder that’s been hanging out under the window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre since 1757, and moving it is more complicated than a game of Jenga played by a bunch of grumpy cats. Imagine this: just one tiny shift of a chair (we’re talking a mere 20 centimeters!) led to a full-on fistfight among church clerics! I mean, who knew furniture could stir up such drama? Now, this ladder is practically a symbol of stubbornness; it can’t budge without the consensus of all six church leaders. It’s like a sacred game of tug-of-war. So, let’s dive into the history behind this quirky piece of Jerusalem’s landscape and explore why some things are just too precious (or contentious) to move!
In Jerusalem, there is an ‘immovable ladder’ under the window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Since 1757, it cannot be moved without the agreement of all six church clerics. Once, a chair was moved 20cm, which resulted in a fistfight, so now nobody dares to alter the ladder.
