(10 Oct 2015) LEAD IN:
The Catholic Church is planning to restore the archaeological site where Christians believe Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
The area includes Byzantine and Crusader churches, as well as ancient mosaics.
STORY-LINE:
Situated on the road that winds down from Jerusalem towards the Dead Sea, the Palestinian town of al-Azariya is home to the Tomb of Lazarus - one of Christianity's most revered sites.
It's the place where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus brought Lazarus of Bethany back to life four days after his death.
The tomb and the site that is thought to correspond to ancient Bethany have been a pilgrimage destination since early Christianity.
Five churches, a convent and a mosque were built around the tomb, starting from the 4th century AD, and have long withstood the ravages of time and the upheaval of war.
Art historian, Carla Benelli, heads the cultural projects department at "ATS Pro-Terra Sancta", a non-profit organisation linked to the Custody of the Holy Land, the authority in charge of Catholic holy places.
She says that around the Tomb of Lazarus and underneath today's modern church lie layers and layers of buildings, like pages of history.
"The site is important first of all, as a religious importance which gives a historical date, which is the miracle of Jesus for the raising of Lazarus. Because of this importance, religious importance, it started to be a step of the pilgrimage, the Christian pilgrimage, since the 4th century. So at that date, when we started to have some sources talking about the site, we have a series of holy places which were built over the place."
After being abandoned for years, the most ancient part of the church compound today is badly in need of restoration.
Two years ago the Catholic Church decided to step in, with a project aimed at rehabilitating and preserving the site.
Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Custodian of the Catholic Church's properties in the Holy Land, says that he was surprised to discover the extent and relevance of the area.
"I myself I knew part of the church and some parts of the property close to the church. I realised that the property is much bigger and the archaeological remains are very important and almost totally abandoned. So I decided that we need to restore, to start to realise, to prepare a project for such a place. And we started just two years ago."
The restoration project is being carried out with the help of the Palestinian University of Al-Quds, whose archaeology students are involved in the excavations.
The idea was to involve local students rather than bringing in students from universities abroad in an effort to connect Palestinians to their own historical treasures.
Today's modern church - also called the Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus - sits on top of two Byzantine-era churches from the 4th and 6th centuries.
Two other churches were erected by the Crusaders and some of their walls are still standing today - as tall and as austere as they were in the 12th century.
Archaeologists believe a convent for nuns was erected in the 12th century by Queen Melisende at the top end of the compound in a series of small cavernous rooms.
The convent was rich and had towering fortified walls, parts of which have survived until today.
Since works started, the excavations have concentrated in this area.
Archaeological digs had already been conducted in the 1950's by Catholic archaeologist, Father Sylvester Saller, but the site was neglected and today is prey for looters.
Osama Hamdan is a professor of Conservation and Restoration at Al-Quds University.
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