Video - Jesus’ tomb after centuries finally opened in Jerusalem.

Jesus’ tomb after centuries finally opened in Jerusalem. (NationalGeographic).

Jerusalem - For the first time in centuries, scientists have exposed the original surface of what is traditionally considered the tomb of Jesus Christ. Located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, the tomb has been covered by marble cladding since at least 1555 A.D., and most likely centuries earlier.

"The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it,” said Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, a partner in the restoration project.

“It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid."

According to Christian tradition, the body of Jesus Christ was laid on a shelf or “burial bed” hewn from the side of a limestone cave following his crucifixion by the Romans in A.D. 30 or possibly 33. Christian belief says Christ was resurrected after death, and women who came to anoint his body three days after the burial reported that no remains were present.

The marble slab that covers the holy bench—roughly 3 by 5 feet and carved from creamy marble—had been pulled away from the wall. Beneath it was a grey-beige stone surface. What is it? a conservator was asked. "We don’t know yet," she replied. "It's time to bring in the scientific monitoring tools."

Outside the Edicule, Thephilos III, the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem, stood watching the events with a serene smile. "I'm glad that the atmosphere is special, there is a hidden joy," said the patriarch.

"Here we have Franciscans, Armenians, Greeks, Muslim guards, and Jewish police officers. We hope and we pray that this will be a real message that the impossible can become the possible. We all need peace and mutual respect." Read the full story here.

Video - Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Christ is risen indeed! Amen!

Holy Fire set to take over Old City of Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Holy Fire set to take over Old City of Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.(JPost).Easter in Israel is unique in many ways, but probably the most significant tradition that occurs only in the Holy Land is the widely awaited tradition of the Holy Fire ceremony. The special ceremony takes place on the Saturday before Orthodox Easter, and captures center stage once again during this holiday's season in Jerusalem for local Christians plus the thousands of believers who make a special pilgrimage to the Holy Land for Easter. The Holy Fire Ceremony is the culmination of Lenten and Easter event, as it represents the moment when the spirit of Jesus fills the tomb site in the Holy Sepulchre. According to beliefs of many, a flame appears in the tomb, which is caught by the Greek patriarch and an Armenian Orthodox priest and is then shared with congregants holding candles in the church who then pass this flame from one person to another. Because this event is specific to Jerusalem geographically, it is not celebrated anywhere else in the world. Many Orthodox pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Armenia, Eastern Europe and the United States line up as early as the day before. Even non-Christians as well as locals will often join in the celebrations in an effort to get inside the Holy Sepulchre for the very special ceremony. All of the churches have a procession through the narrow Old City streets to the Holy Sepulchre on the morning of the Holy Fire Ceremony. Holy Fire is celebrated on the Saturday before Easter Sunday (Orthodox Easter) and is referred to as Saturday of Light, or Sapt il-Noor. Holy Fire is celebrated on the Saturday before Easter Sunday (Orthodox Easter) and is referred to as Saturday of Light, or Sapt il-Noor. The ceremony is observed only by the Eastern Orthodox churches, Syrian, Armenian, Russian and Greek Orthodox as well as Copts. Catholics and Protestants do not participate. Eastern Orthodoxy religion considers Holy Fire a regularly occurring event as it has occurred at the same time in the same place annually for centuries. The first written account of the Holy Fire dates from the 4th century while accounts from 1106 and 1107 by the Russian Abbot Daniel describe a similar ceremony. Matthew 28:3, makes note of the Holy Fire and says that at Jesus' tomb, an angel of the Lord appeared whose appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.Read the full story here.

 Video - Јerusalem 2011 - Holy Fire. (Russian).