The tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, was opened for the first time in centuries. The restoration project is being captured on reel by the National Geographic. It will help scientists to study the original surface of the holy site.
It is believed that after the crucifixion, Christ's body was laid on a "burial bed". The original rock might enable researchers to examine and understand the original form of the tomb chamber.
The tomb's original surface was uncovered in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem while restoration work was undergoing. It is covered by marble cladding since 1555 A.D. National Geographic reports.
"The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it," Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, a partner in the restoration project, said. "It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid."
It is believed that Christ was resurrected after his death, and the women who came to anoint his body following three days said that his remains had vanished.
"We are at the critical moment for rehabilitating the Edicule," said Moropoulou, who is supervising the restoration. "The techniques we're using to document this unique monument will enable the world to study our findings as if they themselves were in the tomb of Christ."
Edicule, a small structure, is now enclosing the burial shelf. Educule means a little house. It is a word taken from Latin aedicule.
It was last reconstructed in 1808-1810 after a fire's destruction.
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