The Fire of 1808
Image idea: the Edicule’s carved stone front.
In 1808, a fire badly damaged the church. The shrine around the tomb was rebuilt in 1810 in an Ottoman Baroque style.
That 1810 shrine is the one pilgrims still see today. It was built over the older layers, a bit like boxes inside boxes.
Because each new shrine was built on top of the last, nobody knew for certain how much older material was hidden inside. Only a full restoration could give experts a proper look.