At the halls of the Custodial Curia of Saint Saviour in Jerusalem, a press conference has  been held to present the progress of the renovation works on the flooring of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the various Christian communities who share the custody of the Sanctuary, including the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, the custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, and numerous representatives of local civil and religious institutions.

Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla, lecturer at the University "La Sapienza" of Rome and scientific coordinator of the research and restoration works, illustrated the main phases of the project, the discoveries made, and the perspectives for the completion of the intervention.

A building site of ecumenical cooperation and scientific research

Launched in 2019, the project represents an example of ecumenical collaboration among the Churches that guard the Holy Sepulcher. The objective is the complete renovation and replacement of the Sanctuary’s flooring, deteriorated by time and infiltration, while respecting the liturgical needs and the complex layout of the site.

The intervention was carried out in stages, in order to guarantee access for the faithful and the continuity of celebrations. At the same time, the site allowed for the development of archaeological and scientific investigations of extraordinary importance, conducted by the Sapienza team under the direction of Prof. Stasolla.

Archaeological discoveries and research results

The research brought to light a complex stratigraphy that documents the millennia-long history of the area.

Among the most significant findings:

• The discovery of Roman and Byzantine layers, which testify to the transformation of the site from quarry and necropolis into a place of worship,
• The discovery of sections of ancient pavements and fragments of mosaics,
• Palaeobotanical analyses that attest to agricultural activity in the area before its monumentalization, and
• The complete documentation, through three-dimensional surveying and digital systems, of each phase of the excavation and restoration.

The investigations have decisively contributed to the historical and topographical reconstruction of the complex, offering new insights into the urban development of Jerusalem.

Toward the conclusion of the work

In the summer of 2025, the laying of new stone slabs began in the areas surrounding the Aedicule of the Holy Sepulcher, marking the entry into the final phase of the site. Operations will continue in the coming months, with the goal of returning to the Basilica a fully restored and scientifically documented flooring.

The project, the result of collaboration between the Custody of the Holy Land, the local Christian communities, and the University of La Sapienza in Rome, confirms the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher as a unique laboratory of dialogue between faith, culture, and science.