The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was founded by Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, and is one of the oldest and most important sites in Christendom. However, the part of the church which contains the site believed to be the tomb of Jesus has been in need of repair for many years though now an agreement has been reached for a Greek company to conduct extensive renovations. The work is expected to last through the remainder of 2016 and be completed sometime in 2017. The cost of the project will be shared between the various denominations that control the church under an agreement from the 19th century. The conflict between the six controlling denominations is notorious, with the most famous example being the “immovable ladder” which has been in place for over 250 years due to an inability to agree, which makes news of the renovation a pleasant surprise. Let us see if this ushers in a new era of cooperation in the management of one of the most historic sites in the Levant.
See Hili Perison, Tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem To Undergo Major Restoration, Art Net News, March 24, 2016.
