of Maria Tsangari
The tomb of Christ in Jerusalem dates back to the time of Constantine the Great according to the findings of the scientists of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) who completed the restoration of the Holy Canopy. The head of the interdisciplinary team, Professor Antonia Moropoulou, talks to Alpha about the importance of the project but also about the spiritual experience she experienced working at the Holy Sepulcher.
The most sacred monument in the world for Christians, the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem was restored by an interdisciplinary team of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and handed over to the three Christian communities, which have been entrusted with its preservation.
Gypsum plaster found inside the tomb leads safely to the conclusion that it dates back to 345 AD, in the time of Constantine the Great.
The historical continuity of the monument was confirmed by the archeological findings, as Mrs. Moropoulou notes:
"From specimens that we dated around the tomb on the sacred rock and behind the orthomarbling we found the entire historical continuity of all times, the Byzantine, the crusade, the Renaissance and the restoration of Komnenos."
The history of the monument
According to historical sources, Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, undertook the task of locating and orthomarbling the Holy Sepulcher. According to the Patriarch of Caesarea Eusebius, the mission of Constantine the Great located the Holy Sepulcher in 325 AD. under a Roman temple built on Hadrian, about 200 years ago. After excavations, the envoys of Constantine the Great discovered a limestone tomb, which is carved into a rock. This is the same tomb that was discovered when NTUA scientists removed the marble slab that now covers the Holy Sepulcher.
Constantine the Great ordered the orthomarbling of the monument, building the famous Holy Canopy, which is located inside the Church of the Resurrection to this day and was restored by the NTUA.
It is the first time that a scientific dating proves that the Holy Sepulcher dates back to the time of Constantine the Great.
Is it really the tomb of Christ?
The scientific researches of the Polytechnic prove that the monument is identified with the place that Constantine the Great believed to be the tomb of Christ. The mission of the NTUA was not to prove whether Christ was really buried there, as Mrs. Moropoulou explains:
"The aim of the research was the protection of the canopy and of course the knowledge of this unique monument of humanity. We felt that this is the tomb of Christ, there is no other explanation. "
Electromagnetic waves inside the Holy Sepulcher?
It is still a mystery that electromagnetic fields from the sacred rock blocked the instruments of scientists. The head of the interdisciplinary team states bluntly that “
I said from the beginning that not all phenomena are explained. " emphasizing that limestone usually does not behave this way.
Need for further work
In order for the Church of the Resurrection to stand the test of time, other restoration works must be carried out, as Mrs. Moropoulou explains. The increase in visitors to the Temple, as well as rainwater and sewage that drain into the basement of the Temple cause problems that must be addressed immediately. The NTUA conducted a study and already has a plan of the project to be done between two Easter holidays, such as the restriction. "Therefore, we are with the mind, the heart and the soul in the Holy Sepulcher. "But we are not there, we are waiting to be called.", Says Mrs. Moropoulou.
Exhibition at the National Geographic Museum and possibly in Cyprus
The scientists' findings, as well as the restoration work, are on display at the National Geographic Museum in Washington. The exhibition will travel to Greece on May 21, and will be housed in the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens.
It may also be presented in Cyprus, as Mrs. Moropoulou reveals to Alpha, as the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis and Mrs. Moropoulou discussed last June the possibility of transferring the exhibition to Cyprus. The Minister of Culture of Greece has already spoken with the Minister of Education and Culture Costas Kadis about the possibility of co-organization.
The interdisciplinary team is working on the publication of its findings in a book in collaboration with the publishing house Springer Nature.
"It is there that humanity kneels and rests its hopes"
The Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem is the holiest monument for Christians around the world and an example of reconciliation between people. It is governed by three major Christian communities and has been held for centuries by a Muslim community in Jerusalem.
Hence it can not leave anyone unmoved, as it is a sign of understanding between people. The NTUA scientist can not be an exception.
"The shocking experience we had at the Holy Sepulcher has to do with the spiritual uplift created by the monument because in front of it humanity kneels and rests all its hopes."
Having completed the restoration of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the interdisciplinary team of the National Technical University of Athens led by Professor Tonia Moropoulou proved the historical continuity of the monument, as plaster found inside the tomb dates back to the time of Constantine.
"From specimens that we dated around the tomb on the sacred rock and behind the orthomarbling we found the entire historical continuity of all times, the Byzantine, the crusade, the Renaissance and the restoration of Komnenos."
This does not prove scientifically that it is the tomb of Christ, but that this was believed by the mission of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, whose purpose was to locate the tomb around 326 AD.
"The aim of the research was the protection of the canopy and of course the knowledge of this unique monument of humanity. We felt that this is the tomb of Christ, there is no other explanation. "
The Polytechnic handed over the Holy Canopy to the three Christian communities that protect it, but there is still a lot of work to be done in the Church of the Resurrection so that it can stand the test of time.
"It simply came to our notice then. Therefore, we are with the mind, the heart and the soul in the Holy Sepulcher. But we are not there, we are waiting to be called. "
The scientists' findings as well as the restoration work are presented in an exhibition at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC, which will travel to the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens and possibly Cyprus in May, Ms. Moropoulou reveals to Alpha.
The interdisciplinary team is working on the publication of its findings in a book in collaboration with the publishing house Springer Nature.
It is still a mystery that electromagnetic fields from the sacred rock blocked the instruments of scientists.
"I said from the beginning that not all phenomena are explained. This rock is limestone, there are no thermomagnetic materials "
The Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem is the holiest monument for Christians around the world and an example of reconciliation between people.
It is governed by three major Christian communities and has been held for centuries by a Muslim community in Jerusalem.
Hence he can leave no one unmoved.
"The shocking experience we had at the Holy Sepulcher has to do with the spiritual
ascension created by the monument because in front of it humanity kneels and rests all its hopes. ”