Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Christian officials have launched historic restoration work at the Tomb of Jesus inside the Church of Holy Sepulchre, site where tradition holds Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.
The works are the first in almost two centuries that will focus on repairing, reinforcing and conserving the structure.
Pilgrims will be able to continue visiting the site while the work is underway. It's expected to last up to a year.
Clerics from the three denominations that oversee the church — Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian — shook hands in a show of unity next to scaffolding erected on Friday. Work is set to begin in about a week.
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III says the ceremony was a message "that we are delivering what we promised."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
