The top of the cave where Jesus was buried was sheared off to expose the interior, and a church was built around it to enclose the tomb. This site is now the Holy Sepulchre Church.
In 2016, the first restoration effort in over two hundred years started taking place inside the church by the National Technical Institute of Athens. The historic tomb where he is said to have been ‘rested’ and his body anointed was opened for the first time since at least 1555 AD and scientists were given 60 hours of access before it was resealed.
The marble burial slab many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries when the tomb was unsealed.
Christian tradition says Christ’s body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans and washed.
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.
The tomb has now been resealed and may not be reopened for hundreds, or possibly thousands, of years.
We were very lucky to arrive and see this soon after the restoration efforts.