NEW UPDATE ON THE MAINTENANCE WORKS AT THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

On the morning of Thursday, October 6, 2022, a meeting was held in the monastery of the Franciscan Brotherhood-Custody of the Holy Land, of the representatives of the three Major Communities, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Franciscans and Armenians for the new information on the ongoing construction works in of the Rotunda and the Seven Arches of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Present from the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood were, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, the Patriarchal Commissioner, His Eminence Metropolitan Isyhchios of Kapitolias, the Geronda Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Geronda Sacristan, His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, the Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos and the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon.

On behalf of the Franciscan Brotherhood, the Custos of the Holy Land Fr Frangiskos Paton and Fr Dobromiro and from the Armenian Brotherhood, His Eminence Sevan and the Abbot of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Archimandrite Samuel.

During this meeting, there was an update on the screen by the experts of the Sapientia University of Rome who are doing the work. The update focused on the following points:

In the situations found below the excavated ground, such as water leaks from the drainage system, in found cisterns, damage to the electrical system and the ways of repairing these damages by inserting new modern material components. The scientific and technical editing of the project was focused on the common and dedicated spaces, the places of worship and the residences within the Church. The drainage and electrical system have been completely repaired. The prospects being drawn for the future are the modernization of the electrical security system, the installation of WIFI and a modern fire-fighting security system, more accurate identification of people entering the Church for their safety, and more precise information about the pilgrims about the guided tours and worship times.

There was also talk about the moisture coming from the Coptic chapel. The technicians maintained that all these works are carried out with respect to the sanctity of the Church and the Status Quo, a fact for which the informed representatives of the Communities thanked and requested a new on-site inspection in the areas around the Rotunda and in the areas outside the Church and in consultation with the Municipality due to the possible leakage of water from the Christian Quarter into the Church.

From Secretariat-General