Greece’s 49-year-old restoration worker Petros Haloftis of Megara, is the first person since 1810 to enter the Tomb of Jesus Christ, while working on the sacred site.
Haloftis has now opened up to a local Greek paper for the first time about his overwhelming experience and speaks of the special moment in Jerusalem, where for the first time in modern history the Tomb of Christ in the Temple of the Resurrection in Jerusalem was opened.
“I was the first person to enter the tomb of Christ. Yes, it smelled of myrrh,” said Petros.
“I felt in awe. I felt unreal. I cried when I found out that I came here because the Lord wanted it. And I was not very much a man of faith,” said Petros in his interview.
“The tomb was not to be opened but the reason they opened it was because they were doing grouting work as they were afraid that water might run through the masonry and destroy what was inside," said Petros fighting back tears.
“I was the one who entered first after the top plate was shifted. The tomb had not been opened since 1810, when the sacred cabin was built to protect it.”
Haloftis described the smell as 'myrrh.' “The place smells of myrrh as the monks use it in the entire Temple of the Resurrection. However, this smell was something else. Something unique that I have not sensed before.”
He also spoke of another unique experience, “In the masonry behind, inside the wall, and at a height of about two meters, I found a wooden wedge about 20 cm long that had a very nice smell that lasted for about three days. It was there for 200 years. Normally, it should have smelled rotten. Yet, it was fragrant."
