Jesus Christ's “burial slab” found in Jerusalem church (video) October 28, 2016 - 14:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Researchers recently uncovered a stone burial slab which many believe Jesus Christ's body may have been laid on following his death, USA Today reports. The original surface of the tomb was uncovered in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem during restoration work and has been covered by marble cladding since at least 1555 A.D., National Geographic reports. The marble cover was pulled back, and researchers were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath the covering, Fredrik Hiebert, an archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, and a researcher on the restoration project, told National Geographic. “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,” Hiebert told National Geographic. National Geographic is filming the restoration process for the Explorer series, which will air in November. According to the Bible, the body of Jesus Christ was laid on a burial bed, or slab of limestone following his crucifixion. Christians believe that Christ was resurrected following his death, and women who came to anoint his body three days after the burial reported that Jesus’ remains had vanished. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built by the Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D., and has long been considered by Christians to be the spot where Jesus Christ was buried, AP reported. In June, a team of experts began renovations on the church and the Edicule or ancient chamber that held Jesus’ tomb, AP reported. The exposure of the burial bed will allow researchers to answer questions about the original form of the tomb, Antonia Moropoulou, of the National Technical University of Athens, told National Geographic. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |