Restoration of Jesus’ tomb complete Easter celebrations are to take place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City for the first time after the completion of major restoration works at the tomb where Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been buried Tomb of Jesus Gospels, composed within decades of crucifixion, describe how Christ was buried in rock-cut tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea – wealthy Jewish follower of Jesus “Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock” Matthew 27:59 Hillside Body laid on limestone shelf or burial bed cut from wall of second chamber Second chamber First chamber Stone bench Circular stone door The Entombment of Christ, by Caravaggio (1603-04) —————————— Archaeology of the tomb 33AD Crucifixion of Jesus According to scripture, Jesus was buried near site of crucifixion on Golgotha “place of skulls” – outside ancient city walls Tomb Golgotha, or Calvary 135AD Reconstruction Roman emperor Hadrian had ground levelled to build Temple of Aphrodite 325AD Byzantine period Constantine, first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, uncovers tomb and builds first church on site Constantine’s Basilica Consecrated 325 1149AD Crusader period Church restored after Christians recapture city, ending 400 years of Muslim rule Church of the Holy Sepulchre Basilica and chapels united under one roof for first time Today Church owes its current shape to restoration works undertaken after 1808 fire and 1927 earthquake Calvary Original hillside superimposed on current church ———————— Edicule 2016-17 works focused on 18th-century shrine enclosing Jesus’ tomb, known as Edicule – from Latin Aedicule (little house) Burial bed of Jesus revealed to be intact after marble cladding covering original tomb was removed $3.3m renovations funded by Greek and Armenian Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches, and personal donation by King Abdullah of Jordan Chapel of the Angel: Pedestal contains Angel’s Stone, believed to be fragment of rock that sealed tomb Experts also confirm existence of original cave walls within shrine 3 metres ————————— Sources: Illustrated Atlas of Jerusalem, Baedeker’s Guide, Everyman Guide to the Holy Land Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS