Slab which ‘held body of Jesus Christ’ is unveiled for first time in centuries

A limestone slab where the body of Jesus Christ supposedly lay after his crucifixion has been uncovered by scientists - for the first time in centuries.

The slab has been encased in marble in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem since 1555, according to National Geographic.

It was last repaired in 1808.

Many historians believe Jesus was laid on the limestone slab for three days before his resurrection - and the slab has become a holy relic for more than a millennia.

Fredrik Hiebert of the National Geographic Society said, ‘We were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it.

‘It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid.’

The slab has been enclosed in a structure known as the ‘Edicule’ - from the Latin, ‘little house’ - which also holds ‘the Angel’s Stone’, believed to be a fragment of the rock Jesus rolled away from the tomb.

Several churches have access to the interior of the tomb - and Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic churches all celebrate divine liturgy or mass there every day.