L.A. Marzulli is fired up.
Coming to viewers “from an undisclosed location somewhere deep in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains,” the intrepid host dove into what he called a “groundbreaking discovery” at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem—one that might finally put to rest a centuries-old debate: where exactly was Jesus buried?
“I just absolutely am enamored by this latest find,” Marzulli said in a recent video.
According to a team of Italian researchers from Sapienza University of Rome, recent excavations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—long considered by many to be the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial—uncovered remains of an ancient garden. The archaeobotanical analysis revealed olive trees and grapevines dating back approximately 2,000 years.
“Let me stop right there,” Marzulli said. “Out of the three sites—the Mount of Olives, the Garden Tomb and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—in my opinion, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre wins hands down.”
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That conclusion, Marzulli explained, isn’t just about the latest scientific find. It’s also rooted in tradition and local testimony that stretches back to the early centuries of the Church.
“When Helena comes into that area around the year 400… the Temple of Venus is built over the site, and the Temple of Jupiter is built on the Temple Mount. Just think about that. Let that sink in,” he said. “The Romans knew exactly what was going on, and they desecrated both of those holy sites.”
According to Marzulli, the early Christian community knew precisely where the events of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection took place.
“Helena goes, ‘Well, where was the crucifixion and burial?’ And the locals who were still there—they knew. They knew exactly where it was: right where the Temple of Venus is,” he said. “They deconstruct the Temple of Venus. The rest is history.”
/**/The archaeological project at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre began in 2022 during renovations. It marks the first major excavation work at the site since the 19th century. The findings appear to affirm the Gospel of John’s account, which describes a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. There they laid Jesus.”
Marzulli emphasized how science and faith are coming together in this moment.
“What I love about the time that we are living in, in modernity, is the fact that science is there… We now have the equipment, we have the scientific knowledge, so we can go into a place like this and look at pollen samples and we can date them back and we can go, ‘Oh wow, look at this.’”
For those who have long favored other sites, such as the Garden Tomb or the Mount of Olives, this may come as a surprise. But for Marzulli, this only strengthens a tradition he already believes is rooted in truth.
“It goes back to the oral tradition,” he said. “If you want to know something, you go local. If you’re in a town and you want to know something about battle, you ask a local who’s been there—maybe their family’s been there for generations.”
Marzulli believes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre holds a deep spiritual resonance, even if its ornate decor doesn’t reflect Protestant simplicity.
“Am I bedazzled by all the iconography and all the candles and everything? No, no… but I respect the honor that’s being bestowed on the site.”
As more details emerge from the dig, and as new technology allows researchers to piece together the past in fresh ways, Marzulli’s excitement is only growing.
“This discovery provides tangible evidence supporting the biblical narrative of Jesus’s final resting place,” he said. “Pretty cool.”
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
