Church of the Holy Sepulchre's Ancient Altar Rediscovered, Researchers Say

Reuters ^ | 4/13/22 | Rinat Harash

[marshmallow]

JERUSALEM, April 13 (Reuters) - Pressed against a wall in a back corridor of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a stone slab bore testimony only to the graffiti etched on it by multitudes of pilgrims through the ages.

But the 2.5 x 1.5 metre stone turned out to be far more precious when its other side was exposed during recent renovations at the church, the traditional site of Jesus's crucifixion and burial.

Researchers believe the elaborate looping ornaments they found on the long-hidden part of the slab indicate it was once the decorated front of a medieval high altar that took pride of place centuries ago in one of Christianity's holiest sites.

"You cannot see it now, but originally it was inlaid with pieces of precious marble, pieces of glass, pieces of small, finely made marble," said Amit Re'em, Jerusalem regional archaeologist for the Israel Antiquities Authority.

"It was shining and this was a really amazing artefact," said Re'em, who conducted the research with Ilya Berkovich of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

They identified the unique decoration method as "Cosmatesque", which combines Classical, Byzantine and early Islamic art in which finely cut tiles of colourful marble are used to fill in circular engravings on the stone.

[Cecily]

Now ten different steams of Christianity can get in periodic fist fights over it.

[Big Red Badger]

Yup,
A fist fight to get in the
Place!
.
The Garden Tomb is more in
Line with Scripture and
more serene.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KyC3Poe3Ylo

[Campion]

If you’re looking for a tomb that looks like the original in a serene location, sure. If you’re looking for the place that Christians have identified as the actual spot for 1700 years or more, then the CotHS is it. It’s serene if you’re there at 5:30 in the morning, not so much the rest of the day. It’s amazing to walk down a corridor where the walls are covered with little graffiti crosses ... scratched there by the Crusaders.

[MurphsLaw]

While the Garden Tomb inspired the imagination for many years...
and regardless how one views the Holy Sepulchre to be thought of,
Archeology has dated the Garden Tomb back to 600-700 BC.... centuries before Christ was crucified, and so cannot be the one based in Scripture.

[Big Red Badger]

Holy Relics are one thing
Searching for the
Living Christ is
Completely another.

[Big Red Badger]

It’s a Relic.

[Big Red Badger]

Thanks,
I spent 10 days walking around Jerusalem with a camera,Tour guide and a
Bible. Felt like Home.

[MurphsLaw]

It’s a Relic.

??
To what are you referencing as a "relic"?

[Campion]

Not sure what your point is. A building isn’t an object of faith.

[Big Red Badger]

The WORD is My
Object if Faith.

[MurphsLaw]

Holy Relics are one thing
Searching for the
Living Christ is
Completely another.

Not sure what you mean by your 'relics" , pov...

But if you are searching for the Living Christ..
You will find his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Tabernacles,
and on the Altars of every Mass...
Just as he intended.

There is no need for any searching...

[Big Red Badger]

Tradition,
All You need is Love.
Christ has paid the Price.

[Campion]

Which is as it should be.

[Campion]

"All you need is Love" is a line from a Beatles song. It doesn't get much more "tradition of men" than that.

Christ has indeed paid the price, and has bought for us many rich and wonderful gifts, not only heaven but a sharing in his divine life while we are still on this earth. (cf 2 Pt 1:4)

[Big Red Badger]

Sorry,
I stepped
in some pope.

[MurphsLaw]

Dang ! you beat me to it !!!

Tradition,
All You need is Love.
Christ has paid the Price.

For the Daily Double... Name those song titles...

Tradition! ... (Fiddler on the Roof)
All You need is Love ... (Beatles)
Christ (has) Paid the Price (KingsKid)

[MurphsLaw]

Christ has paid the Price.

Yes He did.
He Sacrificed His Body for Us.
What started in the Upper Room, was Finished on the Cross.
"This IS My Body" which He has Given for US...
And he IS with us, "till the end of the age"...
He is there in the Eucharist... from St. Paul, all the way to US still to this day...

There is no need to be searching...