A Muslim guards Christianity’s most important holy site – for almost 800 years, the Nuseibeh family has guarded the gates of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. But can this unique tradition continue if the younger generation wants to go their own way?

Every morning, 75-year-old Wahjeed Nuseibeh opens the heavy wooden gate of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He welcomes clergy and pilgrims from all over the world, ensures order and respect – and closes the gate again in the evening. He has been performing this task with dedication for over four decades. He mediates between hostile Christian denominations, ensures that celebrations run smoothly, and is an indispensable part of religious life in Jerusalem. It is an extraordinary responsibility – one that has been borne by a Muslim family since the time of Saladin in the 12th century.

But Wahjeed is getting older. His strength is waning. A successor is needed – but who should take on this task? His son is hesitant, and the younger members of the family are drawn to the wider world. Modern lifestyles, social media, new perspectives – even the traditional Nuseibeh family is caught between history and the present. Added to this are the consequences of decades of conflict: many relatives no longer live in Jerusalem.

The documentary accompanies Wahjeed on his search for a successor – a journey through Jerusalem and to Jericho, to sons, cousins, grandchildren, and nieces. In the process, a multi-layered portrait of a family unfolds, whose roots are said to date back to the early days of Islam and which still enjoys great prestige today as scholars, politicians, entrepreneurs, and doctors.

The film offers rare insights into Muslim and Christian life in Jerusalem and shows how much the Middle East conflict has shaped the family’s fate: expulsion with no prospect of return, but also a persistent commitment to dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence.

“The Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre” is more than the story of a generational change. It is a film about responsibility, identity, and respect between religions—and about the moving question of whether a centuries-old tradition can survive in our time. An impressive plea for the possibility of peaceful coexistence between religions and cultures.

Written and directed by
Florian Höllerl

Cinematography
Alfred Hadad

Editing
Alexander Schönauer

Sound
Uri Raz

Service Producer
Menachem Avny

Translations
Ishraga Mustafa Hamid
Regina Elias

Color Grading / Mastering
Nicola Stampfer

Sound Design / Mixing
Emanoel Bruckmüller

Narrators
Lukas Wurm
Magdalena Bönisch
Katrin Daliot
Peter Faerber
Michael Menzel
Kai Peterson

Production Manager
Eva Hödlmoser

Producer
Michael Cencig

Production ORF
Gabriele Wistawel
Carmen Carl

Editor
Helmut Tatzreiter

Head of ORF
Barbara Krenn

A production by Metafilm Vienna on behalf of ORF