Christian officials have launched historic restoration work at the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Jerusalem site where tradition holds Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

The works are the first in almost two centuries and will focus on repairing, reinforcing and conserving the structure.

Pilgrims will be able to continue visiting the site while the work is completed. It is expected to last up to a year.

Clerics from the three denominations that oversee the church - Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian - shook hands in a show of unity next to scaffolding, with work set to begin in about a week.

Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, said the ceremony was a message "that we are delivering what we promised".

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