News | World | Middle East Jesus Christ's tomb uncovered for first time in centuries in hunt for secrets of how and where he was buried Researchers working at the holy site in Jerusalem have exposed the original rock tomb for the first time since at least 1555
Ben Kentish @BenKentish 4 hours ago
Worshippers celebrate the miracle of the Holy Fire at the Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem EPA
Scientists working at what is believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ have uncovered his original tomb for the first time in centuries.
The grave, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, has been covered in marble since at least 1555 AD - and possibly centuries earlier.
But now archaeologists have removed the slabs and exposed the original, rock-carved tomb that Christ is believed to have been buried in. They are conducting further tests to establish more about where and how he was buried, according to National Geographic.
According to Christian tradition, Christ was buried in a limestone tomb made of rock hewn from the side of a cave after he was crucified by the Romans in 30 AD.
Christians believe he was resurrected after his death, with the Bible recounting that women who went to see him three days after the burial found no remains in the cave.
The new excavation of the site, which is the most holy in Christianity, is being carried out by a team from the National Technical University in Athens that has previously led restoration work on the Athenian Acropolis and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Beneath the marble covering, they discovered a "fill" layer of rubble and a grey stone surface, the nature of which is unknown but undergoing tests.
They will now carry out further analysis of the original rock that formed the “burial bed” on which Jesus Christ’s body is believed to have laid. The tomb was first discovered by Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, in 326 AD.
Fredrik Hiebert, an archaeologist at the National Geographic Society who has been involved in the restoration, said:
"The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it,”
“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."
The work is part of a $4 million (￡3.3 million) project to restore the tomb and the small structure, called the Edicule, in which it is enclosed. The research has in part been funded by King Abdullah II of Jordan.
"We are at the critical moment for rehabilitating the Edicule," said Professor Antonia Moropoulou, who is leading the project.
"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."
The tomb was uncovered after the church was closed early to the many tourists and pilgrims who visit the site every day. The candles that usually light the sacred Edicule were replaced with bright construction lights, allowing hard hat-wearing researchers to reveal previously unseen details.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was first built in 335 AD and forms the heart of the Christian Quarter within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is jointly managed by representatives of six different Christian denominations, with the Greek Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Armenian Church having the most influence.
Disagreements over the running of the site have led to a number of disagreements, including brawls between rival monks.
Because no part of the church can be modified without the agreement of all the different communities, much-needed restoration work is often prevented.
WATCH: Restorers uncover the slab that held the body of Jesus Christ for the first time in centuries Oct 28, 2016 148
The burial slab that many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries.
The original surface was exposed during the restoration work being done at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, according to the National Geographic.
Until then, marble had encased the slab since at least 1555 AD.
The burial slab (pictured being revealed from its marble case) many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries. The original surface, partially shown in this picture, was exposed during restoration work at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of JerusalemThe burial slab (pictured being revealed from its marble case) many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries. The original surface, partially shown in this picture, was exposed during restoration work at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem THE BURIAL SLAB WHERE CHRIST’S BODY WAS LAID
Christian tradition says Christ’s body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago.
The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule – a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning ‘little house.’
An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus’ body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried before his resurrection. It stands a few hundred yards from the site of Jesus’ crucifixion.
With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity’s holiest shrines.
The organization is filming the work being done at the church, which is considered the most sacred site in Christianity.
Fredrik Hiebert, the National Geographic Society’s archaeologist-in-residence, said: ‘The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it.
‘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.’
Christian tradition says Christ’s body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago.
He was resurrected three days after his death, according to scripture, and the women who came to anoint his body said no remains were found.
The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule – a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning ‘little house.’
An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus’ body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried before his resurrection.
It stands a few hundred yards from the site of Jesus’ crucifixion.
With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity’s holiest shrines.
But that hasn’t stopped clerics from engaging in turf rivalries over the years.
This picture shows workers removing the top of the tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule – a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning ‘little house
Christian tradition says Christ’s body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago. This slab had been encased in marble since at least 1555 AD. Worshippers are pictured praying to the slab underneath the marble casing, before it was uncovered
An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus' body was anointed. With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity's holiest shrines
The Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches are responsible for maintaining separate sections, and each denomination jealously guards its domain. While the clergymen who work and pray at the church generally get along, tensions can rise to the surface. In 2008, an argument between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks erupted into a brawl.
This time, the clergymen put aside their differences — a reflection of the dire need for the repairs. Last year, Israeli police briefly shut down the building after Israel’s Antiquities Authority deemed it unsafe, prompting the Christian denominations to join forces.
The Edicule and the tomb are currently being restored by scientists from the National Technical University of Athens.
The university’s chief scientific supervisor Professor Antonia Moropoulou told National Geographic that it is ‘the critical moment’ for restoring the Edicule.
The original surface was exposed during the restoration work being done at the Church
Until then, marble had encased the slab since at least 1555 AD
The original surface was exposed during the restoration work being done at the Church (left, in June, and right, in May)
What and where: A floor plan of Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with the Edicule chamber marked in red on the left
This file photo shows what the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre church has looked like for the past 200 years. It was last reconstructed in the early 19th century after a fire destroyed it. But repairs were long overdue as the structure it was damaged in an earthquake in 1927
The Edicule and the tomb are currently being restored by scientists from the National Technical University of Athens. Using cotton swabs dipped into a solution of liquid soap and water, centuries-old layers of wax and carbon dioxide are scrubbed away by a restoration expert
The Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches are responsible for maintaining separate sections, and each denomination jealously guards its domain
TURBULENT HISTORY OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
The church, one of the world’s oldest, was built in 325 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine.
That structure was destroyed in 1009 by Muslim Caliph al-Hakim.
A 12th-century restoration by the Crusaders gave the Holy Sepulchre its current appearance, while in 1808 a fire all but destroyed the Edicule.
In 1852, the Ottoman authorities then governing the Holy Land provided a framework for resolving disputes inside the church.
But repairs are long overdue as the structure it was damaged in an earthquake in 1927.
It was last reconstructed in the early 19th century after a fire destroyed it.
But repairs are long overdue as the structure it was damaged in an earthquake in 1927.
Lack of financial resources prevented the work from being done, but donors to the project – estimated at more than $4 million (￡3.26 million) – include Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Mica Ertegun, who gave $1.3 million (￡1.06 million) to the World Monuments Fund to support it.
Earlier this year, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as the the Roman Catholic Church, and the Armenian Orthodox Church (the three main out of six Christian sects that have custody of the church) invited the NTU to lead the restoration project.
Work is expected to be complete in the spring of 2017.
The church, one of the world’s oldest, was built in 325 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine.
That structure was destroyed in 1009 by Muslim Caliph al-Hakim. A 12th-century restoration by the Crusaders gave the Holy Sepulchre its current appearance, while in 1808 a fire all but destroyed the Edicule.
In 1852, the Ottoman authorities then governing the Holy Land provided a framework for resolving disputes inside the church.
They put into effect the ‘status quo,’ a set of historic laws and power-sharing arrangements that rigidly regulates the denominations’ activities inside the Holy Sepulchre.
Christian nuns watch as renovations of Jesus’ tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s old city began earlier this year
Earlier this year, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as the the Roman Catholic Church, and the Armenian Orthodox Church (the three main out of six Christian sects that have custody of the church) invited the NTU to lead the restoration project.
While the tomb is stable, it needs urgent attention after years of exposure to environmental factors like water, humidity and candle smoke
More than two centuries have past since the last time any restoration work was done in the chamber, partly because it is a holy site for many branches of Christianty
The Rev. Athanasius Macora, a Franciscan monk who represents the Catholics at the inter-church commission that negotiates disputes at the Holy Sepulchre, said the renovation might have been more ambitious if not for the status quo rules.
‘I personally would have liked to maybe contemplate some alternative to simply restoring the current structure. But because the status quo is so conservative in its nature . we had to more or less accept the fact that there would be no change whatsoever to the current structure, and it would be restored as it is now,’ he said.
Still, for pilgrims like Italian Claudio Pardini, the restoration is ‘an important sign’ that all of the Christian churches are getting together to preserve their faith’s traditions.
‘It’s good to take care of our churches so that we can leave the next generations a sign, something to visit,’ he said. ‘Because Christ isn’t an idea. He’s a story.’
"Demi Allah, sesungguhnya Nabi Isa AS sekarang masih hidup di sisi Allah. Bila beliau nanti turun ke bumi, semua orang akan beriman kepadanya (Tafsir Ath-Thabari)."
The research has in part been funded by King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Apa yang king Abdullah expect from funding projek gali kubur Jesus...
It is jointly managed by representatives of six different Christian denominations, with the Greek Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Armenian Church having the most influence.
The keys to the church have been in the possession of a Muslim family since the 12th Century.
Kenapa 6 mazhab yang share managing the church tak boleh tukar kunci ka?...
makam muhammaphomet itu pun entah2 bknnya ada bangkai heols pun sis
itu pun ada babi sunni mahu mencuri mayatnya siap ada cerita lagi katanya yg mahu curi itu di panah petir
sian kat jesus..dia mengikut mitos akan turun jadi penyelamat ummah dari dajal..tapi ummah baca atthaiyat tak pernah doakan dia..nabi muhammad pun baca atthaiyat doa kan dia ngan berahim je..
Post time 29-10-2016 08:05 AMFrom the mobile phone|Show all posts
Reborn_Atheist replied at 29-10-2016 12:29 AM
kalau nabi isa dah mereputz........ macam mana dia akan dibangkitkan utk menyelamatkan umat isle? ...
Kami percaya Tuhan pencipta sekalian alam. Jika tuan yg budiman pun boleh terbit di dunia out of nothing.. mengapa pula tidak, atas blessingNya kpd makhluk2 untuk memunculkan nabi isa a.s .. untuk membawa misi penting
Post time 28-10-2016 11:55 PM
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