Jesus Christ's tomb opened for first time in 500 years to reveal miraculous discovery inside

 The shrine which contained the tomb where Jesus Christ ’s body lay for three days after his crucifixion has been opened.

The tomb has been sealed in marble since at least 1555 to protect it from pilgrims who kept stealing pieces as holy relics.But over the centuries the church had been destroyed and rebuilt so many times there were doubts about what it contained.

Now the tomb’s marble lid has been removed for the first time in five centuries – revealing a miraculous discovery. 
There, unseen for half a millennium, was the limestone shelf where Christ’s body is thought to have been placed.

The researchers also discovered a second grey marble slab no one knew existed, engraved with a cross they believe was carved in the 12th century by the Crusaders.

Archaeologist Fredrik Hiebert of National Geographic, which was a partner in the project, says:

“The most amazing thing for me was when we removed the first layer of dust and found a second piece of marble.