On 21 August 2024 H.B. the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theofilos III and representatives of the Custody of the Holy Land and the Armenian Patriarchate conducted an inspection of the archaeological excavation site of the Holy Sepulchre complex in Jerusalem, by the Department of Antiquities of the University of Rome Sapienza.

Attached the communiqué written in English (PDF also in Italian) – edited by Prof. Francesca Romana Stasolla of the Department of Antiquities of the University of Rome Sapienza.

Statement August 2024

The 21st August 2024 H.S. the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Thephilus III and the delegates of the Custody of the Holy Land and of the Armenian Patriarchate have been guided in a survey in the worksite of the archaeologic dig of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which activities are led by the Department of Antiquities of the University of Rome Sapienza (Figg. 1-2).

Starting from 4th of December 2023 the dig’s work has been resumed regularly and has been related to finalization of the deambulatory, the oriental half part of the area of the entrance to the Basilica, the Franciscan area called “of the Maddalena” and now they are focused on one of the northern rooms, that is related to the east portion of the northern apse of the Rotunda (Fig. 3).

During the works the Stone of Unction has been restored by Daniela Russo of the Fondazione Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale, that is in charge of the responsibility of the restoration of the basilica’s pavement (Fig. 4).

The Stone has been removed to let the restoration and archaeological investigation, this enable to verify the medieval position of the artefact, that was in the same area, in a short distance from the current location. Once that the Stone has been restored, was relocated at her place. The excavation let to the identification of the roman’s structure, in particular they helped to document the presence of a wall’s foundation that got an east-west direction; it is parallel to the wall of the current entrance of the Basilica and that also cut the Calvary Rock (Figg. 5-6).

A portion of this wall was already individuated during the works by P. V. Corbo, but now has been shown in a longer length, and this helps to appreciate better the trend and the relations with others structures. Probably corresponds at the southern limit of the cultic structure that is from the Hadrian age, that covered the venerated Tomb; it was cut and defunctionalized for the construction of the Constantinian liturgical Basilica. About this church, that is knew from the sources as Martyrium, have been found the southern section of the apse, so now is possible to retrace certainly its trend.

Also, during the excavation in the Basilica’s entrance area has been possible to identify a portion of the south wall of the 4th century triporticus, that goes below of the current medieval frontage, and a portion of the stylobate that is parallel to him. This proves the presence of the arm of the south portico already during the 4th century.

A careful analysis of the Calvary Rock let to document the cuts made to gain part of the stair to the access to the upper chapel, where the crucifixion was venerated. This stair has been used until recent times, even if reintegrated woods steps, since it still recurs in travel’s diary of the 17-18th century. In the north area of the basilica have been found the structures already identified during the excavations made by P. Virgilio Corbo, that know have been subject of better considerations thank to the new data. Have been detected a portion of the roman wall that match with the one that is attributed to the temple, in the south area, and constitute the southern limits of it.

So, the area occupied by cultic roman area is being to be delineated with more accuracy. Have been located the traces of the northern arm of the stylobate of the 4th century triporticus, in according to the ones that have been already noticed in the past months. Have been excavated a portion of the north apse of the Rotunda, that shows a medieval opus sectile pavement, related to a chapel apse zone (Fig. 7); in the elevated walls are shown the traces of the liturgical fence that use to separate the altar from the rest of the area. Portions of a similar floor have been identified by P. V. Corbo also in the south apse if the Rotunda. At the same time of the excavation the documentation of the walls of the basilica are going on, thanks to the of availability of the communities, whom helps the access (Fig. 8). Also, the work related is related to the artefacts and the paleobotanical an archeozoological rests is continued (Figg. 9-10).

By:custodia