It is the most sacred monument in Christianity and it is once again the point of attraction for scientists, historians and theologists from around the world.

Undergoing a delicate $4 million restoration process, the tomb in which Jesus’ body is believed to have been laid after his crucifixion has been exposed for the first time in centuries.

The rock-carved tomb had been covered by a marble slab, which has been pulled back to reveal the original ‘burial bed’ of Jesus Christ. The restoration team has managed, for the first time in centuries, to examine the fill material found beneath the marble slab.

The tomb lays in the centre of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is situated in the heart of the Christian quarter of the walled Old City of Jerusalem, expanding over the assumed site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

The tomb itself is located inside a structure known as the Edicule, which is being restored by a team of Greek conservators from the National Technical University in Athens. It has been rebuilt four times, most recently in 1810 after a fire. The team of conservators, led by Professor Tonia Moropoulou of the National Technical University of Athens’ School of Chemical Engineering, Section of Materials Science and Engineering, previously worked on the Acropolis in the Greek capital and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

“The techniques we’re using to document this unique monument will enable the world to study our findings as if they themselves were in the tomb of Christ,” Professor Moropoulou told National Geographic.

Restoration works take place at night, in order to not interfere with the swarms of pilgrims and tourists visiting the church everyday, but the site was closed for the slab’s removal. The Edicule is traditionally lit by dozens of flickering candles, but for this specific process, industrial light was used for the first time.

The restoration project, involving about 50 experts from a wide array of scientific fields, began earlier this year after funding was secured from donors including King Abdullah of Jordan and Mica Ertegun, the widow of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, who donated $1.3 million.

The Christian denominations that jointly run the church also committed funds. The project is due to be completed next spring.