Jerusalem, agreement for the second part of the work at the Holy Sepulchre

The green light with the signature of the three leaders of the Status Quo: the Custos of the Holy Land, the Armenian patriarch and the Greek Orthodox patriarch. Christian leaders express "great joy and satisfaction". The work in two phases of "restoration and rehabilitation" concerns the foundations of the tomb and the floor of the church.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - Two years after the first part of the restoration of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, which concluded on 22 March 2017 with a solemn ecumenical ceremony, the Christian communities have reached an agreement for the second phase . Those responsible for the Status Quo of the sacred place where Christ was buried signed the clearance for the project: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Teophilos III, the Custos of the Holy Land Francis Patton and the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian.

The first part of the restoration work on the aedicule of the Holy Sepulchre began in May 2016, following the signing of the agreement on 22 March, and continued for about 10 months. The objective of the work was the consolidation of the whole structure, to preserve it from the damages deriving from eventual seismic activity, as was the case with the earthquake of 1927. The work is financed both by public and private bodies.

In an official statement released yesterday following the signing, the leaders of the Christian communities responsible for the Status Quo of the Holy Sepulchre announced the agreement "with great joy and satisfaction". The work of "restoration and rehabilitation  ", continue the leaders of the three communities, concern "the foundations of the Holy Sepulcher and the floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre".

The project, continued the Christian leaders, is the consequence of a "positive" outcome of the "restoration of the tomb". It "marks and confirms the Communities' ongoing commitment to the maintenance and rehabilitation of this Holiest place, which in its silence and bareness, eloquently proclaims the very essence of our Faith."

The project related to the second phase of the work will take place " The project will be carried out in two phases, a first stage of study for the determination of the current situation of the foundations and a second phase of restoration of the foundations and of the pavement of the Church. Two Italian academic and scientific institution of the highest qualification shall carry out the studies and execute the works under the supervision of the joint committee of the three Communities.”