e Restoration Commi ee of the Gro o of the Church of the Nativity announces the commencement of restoration works in the Gro o of the Nativity in Bethlehem. is historic milestone follows the 2024 Presidential Decree issued by His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas regarding the restoration of the Gro o and the formation of a specialized commi ee for this purpose. e Commi ee operates in full coordination with the Higher Presidential Commi ee for Church Aairs, as part of the national e orts to safeguard Christian holy sites and preserve its historical presence in the Holy Land. e Decree emphasizes the necessity of preserving this spiritual, religious, and national heritage, while explicitly upholding the Status Quo rights of the three Churches in the Church of the Nativity: the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate. e restoration of the Gro o serves as the vital completion of the comprehensive restoration project of the Church of the Nativity initiated in 2013. e restoration of the Church is considered incomplete without the rehabilitation of the Gro o itself—the spiritual and historical heart of the entire site. For years, the Gro o has su ered from critical structural and technical conditions caused by time, humidity, and the continuous inux of pilgrims and worshippers, making this intervention an urgent necessity to ensure the safety, sanctity, and longevity of the site. Since its inception, the Restoration Commi ee has undertaken a comprehensive series of preparatory steps. ese include specialized engineering and archaeological studies, precise eld examinations, and the development of plans according to the highest scienti c international standards. Furthermore, the Commi ee has nalized all legal, administrative, and logistical requirements in constant coordination with the Churches and relevant stakeholders to ensure that works respect the sanctity and religious sensitivity of the site. e Italian rm Piacenti has been selected to execute the restoration works. Piacenti is a leading international rm specialized in the restoration of historic and religious sites with direct experience in the Church of the Nativity, having previously executed delicate restoration of the wooden roof, stone elements, columns, mosaics, doors, and facades. eir use of advanced scienti c techniques ensures the preservation of the original materials and architectural identity. e continued collaboration with this rm serves as a professional guarantee that the Gro o will be restored with the utmost precision, maintaining its unique spiritual and archaeological character. As the Restoration Commi ee of the Gro o of the Church of the Nativity announces the start of these works, it rea rms its full commitment to protecting this exceptional religious site and safeguarding its spiritual, human, and cultural value. e restoration aims to preserve the sanctity of the Gro o for the bene t of pilgrims, visitors, and the Palestinian people alike. Works are expected to be completed by August 2026, marking a pivotal moment in strengthening the national and Church e orts to preserve one of the holiest landmarks of Christian heritage in the world. It should be noted that the Restoration Commi ee is chaired by Dr. Khouloud Daibes (Member of the Higher Presidential Commi ee for Church Aairs) and includes members: Dr. Nabil Kassis, Dr. Nazmi Al-Jubeh, Eng. Imad Nassar, Mr. George Al-Ama, and representatives from the Bethlehem Municipality and the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation.
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