Jesus' Tomb in Danger of Collapsing

Christian worshipers take part in the ceremony of the holy fire at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has long been a city wrought with religious and political tension.

However, some of that tension has given way to unity as Christians work toward a common goal.

The Armenian, Greek Orthodox, and Roman Catholic Christian communities in the Old City have largely stayed out of the spotlight, quietly feuding in the shadows of their shared holy sites. But one of Christianity’s holiest sites, the shrine guarding the tomb of Jesus underneath the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, is collapsing.

A March 22 agreement says that the $3.4 million renovation will begin in May. To renovate the holy site, each of the three sects contributed one-third of the funds, supplemented by a $57,000 contribution from a Greek bank for the scaffolding, the New York Times reports.

The renovation itself will be complicated. According to the New York Times:

They will take apart, slab by slab, the ornate marble shell built in 1810, during Ottoman rule of Jerusalem. The conservationists will then tackle the remains of the 12th-century Crusader shrine that lies underneath. That was erected after the Shiite ruler of Egypt, al-Hakim, destroyed the first Aedicule in 1009. The original was built by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, the Christian Roman emperor who did much to elevate the status of Christianity through the empire. Finally, the workers will repair cracks in the remains of the rock-hewed tomb underneath, where most Christians believe Jesus was placed after he was crucified.

 

The structure was first built in the 19th century under Ottoman Rule and was fortified by a rickety iron cage in 1947. The repair process has been delayed for decades due to a a “turf war” between the sects, allowing the shrine to fall into further disrepair.

In February 2015, the Israeli government stepped in and shut down the site for several hours after reports surfaced that there was risk for collapse. It was a clear message to the Christian communities that action must be taken.
 
The New York Times reports that the renovation is expected to start later this month, after Orthodox Easter celebrations.