Tomb of Jesus Reopens to Public After $3 Million Restoration

Tomb of Jesus Reopens to Public After $3 Million Restoration
The restorers removed the exterior stones from three sides of the edicule and created a special grout to "bond the masonry to the rock
that lies at the core of the structure," according to the World Monuments Fund.
It was worn down by centuries of water damage, fire, candle smoke, humidity, bird droppings, human visitors and disputes among feuding denominations, who share control of the church
but were previously unable to agree on plans to fix the shrine.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos said that For the first time in over two centuries, this sacred edicule has been restored,
By RUSSELL GOLDMANMARCH 22, 2017
Thousands of Christian pilgrims and members of the clergy gathered at a modest shrine in Jerusalem’s Old City on Wednesday to
celebrate the completion of a monthslong effort, hundreds of years in the making: The restoration and repair of Jesus’ tomb.
"This is not only a gift to our holy land, but to the whole world." The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox
and Roman Catholic denominations share custody of the church.
The tomb was last restored in 1810 after a fire, but the religious custodians were compelled
last year to make repairs after the Israeli authorities deemed the building unsafe.