Crumbling masonry, huge tax demands and falling congregations have brought the squabbling Christian communities in Jerusalem together for the first time in over 500 years

The agreement announced last month by the leaders of the three Churches guarding the Holy Sepulchre to undertake extensive repairs to its drains, electricity and other infrastructure confirms that, for the first time in centuries, Jerusalem’s Christian communities are coming together to agree on how to protect the site where Christ is believed to have been entombed after his crucifixion.

The multi-million-dollar restoration will be the second phase of recent efforts to prevent the Holy Sepulchre from collapsing. Earthquakes, throngs of pilgrims, candle soot, grime and the wear and tear of centuries have left the ancient marble structure dirty and dangerously insecure. The Israeli authorities briefly closed the entire complex in 2015, declaring it unsafe, and threatened to step in to make compulsory repairs.

For centuries, the marble shrine, known as the Edicule, which was extensively rebuilt in Ottoman times, has been controlled by the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic Churches (known as “the Latins”). So fierce was their rivalry, and so jealous were they of their privileges, that they rarely agreed on any changes or repairs, however small.

After a severe earthquake in 1927 the entire building became unsafe. For years it was propped up by emergency scaffolding erected by the British during their mandate.