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Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Restoration Work Begins On The Tomb Of Jesus

A team of experts have begun renovation work on the tomb in Jerusalem where Christians believe Jesus was buried.
The main aim of the project is to reinforce and preserve the edicule, the ancient chamber housing Jesus' tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
It is the first such work at the tomb since 1810, when the shrine was restored and given its current shape after a fire.
The edicule is an ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and huge candlesticks.
It was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus' body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried before his resurrection.
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-RELIGION-CHRISTIANITY-ORTHODOX-EASTER
It stands a few hundred metres from the site of his crucifixion.
With its stone staircases and gilded ornamentation, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of Christianity's holiest shrines.
Last year, Israeli police briefly shut down the building after antiquities experts deemed it unsafe.
The various Christian denominations who share the church have combined to get the reconstruction work done.
It is being carried out by a team of nine experts from Greece who have worked on the Acropolis in Athens.
Members of the Catholic clergy hold candles during a procession at the traditional Washing of the Feet ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City
Supervisor Antonia Moropolou said the tomb is stable but needs urgent attention because of damage caused by candle smoke, humidity and other factors.
"The marble and stone slabs have developed some deformations due to the stresses," she said.
She added that the structure also needs to be protected from the risk of earthquake damage.
The work is expected to cost around £2.25m and take between eight and 12 months.

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