Tourists in Jerusalem got some welcome news this week, as the site believed to be where Jesus Christ was entombed reopened to the public after an extensive restoration.
According to CNN, repairs were made to the Edicule, a structure thought to be “Jesus’ final resting spot after his crucifixion,” which sits inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City. The restoration began in May 2016, with the World Monument Fund and National Technical University of Athens taking the lead on the work.
The primary task involved reinforcing the age-old masonry within the structure and preserving the structure’s stonework. The team of restorers often worked late at night, so as not to disturb the faithful from praying at Jesus’ tomb during the day. (The current Edicule structure dates from 1810, as it was rebuilt twice.)
As part of the restoration work, the stone slab covering the tomb was removed last October for the first time in nearly 500 years, per CNN. The significance of its completion this week should not be lost on the faithful; it was completed just weeks before Easter.
For more on the restoration, watch the video below.
—RealClearLife
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.