Jesus Christ's Tomb Unearthed by Scientists

Scientists have revealed the original surface of what is considered the tomb of Jesus Christ. Found at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, the tomb had not been seen since it was enclosed in 1555.

Christians believe that after his crucifixion, Jesus was placed to rest on the slab or "burial bed" and sealed in the tomb before being resurrected and ascending to heaven two days later. Centuries later, believers brought the slab to what is now known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where it has remained concealed from the public since 1555.

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and a partner in the restoration project, stated, "The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it. It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid."

This burial shelf is now enclosed by a structure known as the Edicule ("little house" from the Latin aedicule). It was last rebuilt in 1808-1810 after a devastating fire. The Edicule and the interior tomb are currently being restored by scientists from the National Technical University of Athens, led by Chief Scientific Supervisor Professor Antonia Moropoulou.

"We are at the critical moment for rehabilitating the Edicule," Moropoulou stated. "The techniques we're using to document this unique monument will enable the world to study our findings as if they themselves were in the tomb of Christ."

The unveiling of Christ's burial slab is giving researchers an opportunity to analyze what is considered as one of the most sacred artifacts in Christianity, even promoting a rare period of unity among conflicting Christian denominations so the project could be completed without further delay. Theophilos III, the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem, is pleased with the social impact of the restoration of the Edicule. "Here we have Franciscans, Armenians, Greeks, Muslim guards, and Jewish police officers. We hope and we pray that this will be a real message that the impossible can become the possible. We all need peace and mutual respect."