The Traditional Tomb Of Jesus, Restored

The Edicule in the Grabkirche — The supposed tomb of Jesus within the rotunda of Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher, from above, as it appeared on a spectacularly light and uncrowded day in 2010. (Usually, the place is absolutely packed with people.) Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph

For years, I’ve insisted on taking my tour groups to Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Not because I think it the actual place of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection — being skeptical of the Garden Tomb, I leaned for a while to thinking the Holy Sepulcher authentic, but I’m now inclined to reject both — but because of its enormous historical significance (as, literally, the center of the world for pre-modern Christendom, as the chief object of the Crusades, and so forth), and because of its significance as the focus of intense devotion for nearly two thousand years of Christianity.

However, the place was dark and filthy.

Now, though, it’s been cleaned up. (There was extensive scaffolding up and lots of work being done when I was last there, in early May of 2016.) And I’m excited to see it in its new state.

Thanks to Cody Quirk for calling this item to my notice:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/jesus-tomb-revealed-after-year-long-renovation-n736231

The traditional tomb of Jesus, restored