Amid turmoil, violence and occupation, something truly unique occurred in Jerusalem. Three churches, which claim direct ownership and control over the location where Christians believe Jesus Christ was buried and rose from the dead, worked closely together. The Greek Orthodox Church along with the Catholic Franciscans and the Armenian Apostolic Church all agreed to allow experts to restore the most holy site in all of Christianity. The result of this effort was unveiled March 23. The project, costing $3.4 million, was funded equally by the three churches, as well as by personal contributions from King Abdullah II of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in addition to support from international foundations.
The division over the Church of the Holy Sepulchre goes back centuries. Unable to find common ground, the church's keys were deposited with Jerusalem's leading Muslim families. The Joudeh and Nuseibeh families are responsible for opening and closing the church every day, and they have been doing so for decades. The Status Quo Agreement was codified by way of a firman (decree) by Ottoman Sultan Osman III in the 18th century. The Status Quo document continues to be accepted by all the churches and governing powers.