Jesus’ tomb reopens in Jerusalem after nine months of restoration work

A shrine surrounding the tomb where Jesus is believed to have been buried in Jerusalem's Old City has been unveiled again to the public in time for Easter after nine months of delicate restoration work.

Unlike other parts of the church, which were renovated between the 1960s and 1990s, the edicule had been neglected. The huge limestone and marble structure needed reinforcement and conservation, including work on the drainage network for rainwater and sewage.

 

The tomb which was renovated by a team of scientists and restorers was formally reopened on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by religious leaders and donors, following a nine-month-long and $3.7m renovation led by the church's three main Christian denominations, the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Roman Catholic denominations who share custody of the church. 

According to reports, disputes between the three denominations have led to renovations being delayed for decades. Each denomination is believed to have contributed towards the $4 million (£3 million) project.

The tomb has now been painstakingly restored to its former glory — including a warm reddish-yellow colouring.

 
Work began last year after the church was deemed unsafe by Israeli authorities, who have controlled East Jerusalem since its capture in the 1967 Middle East war.

 

The shrine, which includes a 19th-century ornate edicule or shrine surrounding the tomb, is a key part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City.

 

However, centuries of candle smoke and visiting pilgrims had left it discoloured and almost black as parts of it were also coming loose, with warnings that it was structurally unsound and posed a risk to the millions of pilgrims who visit the site every year. 

 

The restorers systematically dismantled, cleaned and renovated almost all of the edicule, including the columns and upper and inner domes. A window has been installed to allow pilgrims to see the bare stone of the ancient burial cave for the first time.