In Jerusalem, repairs have begun on Christ's tomb

Jerusalem - A team of experts today began repairs on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which, according to tradition, houses the remains of Jesus Christ. This was reported by the AP agency. It is the first comprehensive renovation of the building, considered the most significant Christian monument in the world, in over 200 years. Repairs had previously been delayed by disputes among the Christian churches that jointly manage the shrine.

The condition of the monument is critical, and its most damaged part is the most visited section - the chapel housing Christ's tomb, built in 1810. Since that year, no significant renovation work has been carried out as the consent of all shrine administrators, namely the Armenian, Catholic, and Greek Orthodox churches, is required for their approval. Obtaining this consensus had been difficult for a long time due to rivalry among the churches.

However, the emergency state of the church led to the church representatives agreeing on the repairs this year after only three weeks of negotiations. The negotiations were necessary due to a 150-year-old management agreement for the shrine, which specifies the responsibilities of the individual churches in detail. For example, it outlines the sections of the church that each is to care for, including such details as the maintenance of individual tiles, niches, windows, doors, and corridors.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been severely damaged, particularly by leaking water, while the edicule containing Christ's remains underwent a partial renovation last during the British mandate in 1947. At that time, it was reinforced externally with a steel structure that stands there to this day.

Last year, the condition of the shrine deteriorated to such an extent that the police and the Israeli authorities for antiquities ordered the site to be closed to visitors for several hours each day because they consider it too dangerous. The Christian community was outraged that Israel did not consult with its representatives before implementing the closure. The current repairs are expected to last eight months, and the church will remain open to visitors during this time.