Jerusalem: The three Christian communities that have uneasily shared their holiest site for centuries are embarking on a large-scale project to restore the ancient stone floor of the Jerusalem basilica.
The project includes an excavation that could shed light on the rich history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, died and rose again, the central event of the faith celebrated every spring on Easter.
It marks a further improvement of ties among the Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic churches. In the past, they have come to blows over the site, notably in 2008 when there was an Easter riot. They share the site under a delicate arrangement dating back to the mid-19th century. Three other denominations also have clearly defined access to the church.
“It shows to the entire world that it is possible among Christians of different churches and communities to have a fraternal relationship,” said Reverend Francesco Patton, the head of the Catholic Franciscan order devoted to preserving Christian sites in the Holy Land.
The three communities came together in 2016 to restore the Holy Edicule on the site where Jesus is believed to have been buried in a cave tomb — the first large-scale renovation since the clean-up after an 1808 fire.
The renovation of the Edicule pointed to the need for further repairs of the floor of the basilica, which includes stones from the Crusader era in the 12th century, recent additions from the 19th century and splotches of concrete and mortar.
Read the article by Areej Hazboun and Joseph Krauss in The Sydney Morning Herald.