The Edicule in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

In a rare sign of unity, the three branches of Christianity who oversee one of the Holy Land’s most precious sites – the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – have put aside their differences to join together in critically needed renovations of the site.

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting on the historic renovations, the first to take place in over 200 years, which have brought together Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Armenians – all of whom are responsible for maintaining separate sections of the church. Even though each denomination jealously guards its domain, they all agreed that the need for repairs is dire.

The focus of the work will be on repairing, reinforcing and preserving the Edicule — the ancient chamber believed by many to house Jesus’ tomb. The cost of the repairs is estimated to be around $3.3 million and each church is contributing funds, the AP reports.

In addition, Jordan’s King Abdullah made a generous personal donation in April for the project. His country once controlled Jerusalem’s Old City and still plays a role in safeguarding Muslim and Christian holy sites.

The decision to embark on the costly repairs came after Israeli police briefly shut down the building after Israel’s Antiquities Authority deemed it unsafe.

“We equally decided the required renovation was necessary to be done, so we agreed upon it”, said the Rev. Samuel Aghoyan, the top Armenian church official at the church, to the AP.

Antonia Moropoulou, the scientific coordinator of the project, said that although the tomb is safe enough for pilgrims to visit, years of exposure to environmental factors such as water, humidity and candle smoke, have taken its toll.

“The marble and stone slabs have developed, due to the stresses, some deformations,” said Moropoulou, an architect at the National Technical University of Athens, which is supervising the renovation.

In addition, the structure needs to be protected from the risk of earthquake damage.

The goal of the repairs is to bolster the existing structure by replacing the mortars and strengthening the columns. It is expected to take from eight to 12 months. During that time, work will be conducted in the early morning and late evening hours so as not to disrupt visits by pilgrims.

Even more historic than the repairs is the unity with which the three denominations are working together. In the past, their relationship has not always been friendly, with a 2008 dispute between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks erupting into an outright brawl.

But signs of healing have been occurring, especially since a visit in 2014 by Pope Francis who prayed at the site alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.

“What has happened is a very good sign, a sign of togetherness,” said Theophilos III, the Greek-Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, about the united repairs.

Pilgrims are also pleased with the repair work and the unity among the denominations that helped to bring it about.

One visitor, an Italian named Claudio Pardini, told the AP that the restoration is “an important sign” that all of the Christian churches are getting together to preserve their faith’s traditions.

“It’s good to take care of our churches so that we can leave the next generations a sign, something to visit,” he said. “Because Christ isn’t an idea. He’s a story.”

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