Final Update from Jerusalem

So, with this update (blog no. 50!) I am concluding my time here in the Holy Land. Time has truly flown. Going back to my notes, I can’t almost believe that three months, very eventful, have gone by. There are some places which I did not have the occasion to visit, like Jaffa, Haifa, the South of Israel and Herodium. There are also some monasteries which it would have been interested to visit. I had also in plan to go to Jordan, but that did not materialize because of lack of time. The fact that I was following lectures made it somewhat difficult to move away from Jerusalem for more than a couple of days. I had lectures on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Now I could say here one thing which I would have liked to do, was to comply with the invitation made to me by the MC Sisters in Gaza to visit them and give them some talks in English. Unfortunately, I did not get the permission to enter Gaza. One main reason was the war there. Well, it wasn’t God’s will for me!

"Even the sparrow has found a home -- a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God (Ps 84,3).

A Day of Retreat

At the end of my experience here I wanted to spend some time of reflection and prayer in order to gather as much as possible the fruit of my time here in the Holy Land, particularly. This has been a blessed time, an opportunity given to me by God to visit these holy places, to bask in God’s love for me, and to reflect further on God’s will for me. I went to the hermitage which the Franciscans have so well organized at the Gethsemane, 25 years ago. There are some 9 small hermitages which are self-sufficient. It is next to the Basilica of the Agony, facing the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and at the foot of the Mount of Olives.

View of the Old City from the Gethsemane Hermitage

The place is truly exceptional and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to spend some days of retreat in this holy place where Jesus asked his disciples to “keep watch with” him (Matt 26,38). It is also the place where Jesus used to go quite often to pray alone.

The Chapel at the Gethsemane Hermitage

I spent the whole day alone in prayer and reflection. There is a very beautiful and peaceful chapel and spaces outside where one could stay and pray. In the evening, I prayed Evening Prayer with the small community which resides here as well as other ‘hermits’.

A statement made by St Jerome in a Letter (Epistle 58,3.4) attracted my attention: “To have been in Jerusalem is not so praiseworthy as to have lived well in Jerusalem”, or for those who want to read it in the original Latin: Non Hierosolymis fuisse, sed Hieroslymis bene vixxise laudandum est.

A final note on this: I was at Gethsemane for the Eucharistic Symphony Concert on September 22 – two days after I arrived in the Holy Land. I went back there only a couple of days before I leave the Holy Land – an interesting, non-planned chiasm!

Christmas Concert at the Seminary, Malta

Thanks to a great effort by the Seminarians in Malta, I was able to follow live the Christmas Concert even this year … through live-streaming. It was a very well-prepared evening with a moment of prayer, Christmas carols and a farce. The reflection produced by the Group of Spiritual Animation was truly significant with good questions and answers on the question of faith in our world. The Rector, then, addressing parents, friends and benefactors, shared an interesting thought in relation to Christmas on the need to become more childlike. Finally the great farce produced by the Seminarians, bringing out their great artistic talents. A heartfelt thank you to those who made this possible!

This is the Seminary in Malta ... Christmas Concert 2012 ... as seen from Jerusalem!

And again ... From Malta ... to Jerusalem!

Western Wall – Hannukkah

On Friday morning, between lectures, I went again to the Western Wall in order to experience the celebration by the Jews of the Hannukkah festival, which, as I wrote in my last blog, is being celebrated in these days. This evening (Saturday) they will light the last candle of eight. There were many people there praying. There was also a big hannukkiyah, just against the Wall. The prayers were characterized by singing and joyful dancing. There was also a teenager was being introduced into the reading of the Torah. 

The Hannukkiyah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Praying, singing and dancing on Hannukkah ... Western Wall

What was interesting was the fact that the women, being prohibited to be in the same area with the men, were looking and taking pictures from over the fence.

Women over the fence which separates their area from that for men.
They are watching the initiation to the reading of the Torah of a teenager.

Muslims going to prayer

Being a Friday, you would see many Muslims going over to the Al Asqa Mosque on the Temple Mount to pray. What really amazed me is the great number of men – old and young – who you see hurrying to go this moment of prayer. Normally, you would see them carrying a carpet with them on which they would do their prayer. Shop-owners would just put a stick across the entry to their shops while they are off to prayer at the Mosque. 

Will a stick be enough! Well, I'm off to prayer ... it's Friday!

You would also see many men – and this not only on Fridays but every day – with their prayer beads in hand. This is called Tesbih (or also Tasbih or Misbaha). It originates from the word Supha (or sebha – note the Maltese sebħ – glory), which means to recite the glories of God (Allah).

Carpet and Tesbih in hand ... off to the Mosque to pray

Tesbih with 99 beads symbolize the ninety nine names of God in Islam. Sometimes only 33 beads are used, in this case Tesbih would be cycled 3 times to reach 99. The main phrase repeated through the first thirty three beads is Süphanallah which means “Praise be to God”. For the next thirty three beads, “Glory be to God”, or Elhümdülillah, and for the final thirty three beads, Allahuekber which means God is most great, is repeated. After these repetitions a final prayer is said, bringing the total number of prayers, as dictated by the Koran, to one-hundred.

Via Crucis and Daily Procession

On Friday, I participated again in the Via Crucis along the Via Dolorosa, the way Jesus made carried the cross to Golgotha. Today, I felt that there was less confusion on the way and so praying the different stations resulted somewhat easier. However, I am not sure whether this was only a subjective sensation! At the Holy Sepulchre Church, I participated again in the daily procession recalling the different moments of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

The Via Crucis at the 12th Station on Calvary

Again, I would like to share another prayer from the ones used during this procession. This one is said at the place of the anointing of the dead body of Jesus: “Lord Jesus Christ, who granted to your faithful friends the privilege of anointing your sacred body with oils at this place, grant that our hearts anointed by your grace may be preserved in health, free from all infection of sin. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

This morning I had again the occasion to visit the Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre where I prayed my Liturgy of the Hours.

Final Act

As a fit conclusion to my stay here, at the beginning of the Novena in preparation for Christmas, this evening I will attend a concert organized by the Magnificat Institute at the Church of San Salvatore to celebrate the winners of the Magnificat String Competition. For the occasion two violins Dario Verné will be played. These were recently given to Magnificat.

The Magnificat Institute of Jerusalem is a School of Music erected in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1995. It is the only one of its kind here within the walls of the Old City. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish children and young people study together united by their common passion for the art of music.

If you wish to see Andrea Bocelli singing Ave Maria at San Salvatore Church in Jerusalem last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fFebMvBOSo

 Immaculate Conception, Three Organs, Via Dolorosa and others

Time is running short! Only a few more days left of my sabbatical here in Israel! I spent most of these past days writing some reflections for a publication connected with the Year of the Faith. However, I did manage also to visit some places of interest. Here is a brief account of I experienced.

First I would like to share with you a very beautiful sunset I saw on Sunday evening. The setting was not the best possible (electric poles and all!), but the sky was just fantastic. I don’t remember ever seeing the sky that red! God our Creator is so majestic!

O Lord our God how majestic is your name in all the earth!
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers!

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

I had the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at Nazareth. It is certainly a most appropriate place for such a celebration. The Custodian of the Holy Land presided the Eucharist which, as it is usual here in the Holy Land, was in Latin and in Arabic. The homily, unfortunately for me, was in Arabic and thus I could not understand anything!

The Immaculate Conception venerated in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth

At the beginning of the Mass, something very special happened: there was the blessing of three (yes three!) organs financed mainly by the people of Austria through the Commissariat of the Holy Land there. The three organs were installed in the Church of St Joseph (which is the Parish Church of Nazareth), the Lower Basilica of the Annunciation (where the annunciation grotto is found) and the Upper Basilica. The ceremony was quite simple: the Franciscan Provincial of Austria said the prayer of blessing in German and then, together with two deacons, went to bless each organ. Once the organs were blessed, they were played. The sound of the biggest of these organs (found in the Upper Basilica) was amazing. May these organs glorify the Lord and lead people in praising God.

The Organ in the Church of St Joseph (Nazareth)

These are not the first organs donated by the Austrian People. In previous years organs were installed at the Holy Sepulcher, Bethlehem and the Monastery of St Saviour in Jerusalem. They have plans to install more organs on other sanctuaries of the Holy Land.

The Organ in the Lower Basilica of the Annunciation - Nazareth

In the afternoon there was a concert played on each of these organs, beginning with that in the Church of St Joseph, then moving on to the Lower Basilica and finally, to the Upper Basilica where several pieces were played. Unfortunately I could not be present for this concert as I had to return to Jerusalem.

The Organ in the Upper Basilica of the Annunciation - Nazareth

If you would like to read more on this occasion (and see some more photos), you can go to:

http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=779&id_n=22322.

Mea She’arim

On Sunday afternoon, together with Fr Joseph Ha OFM, I went to visit the Mea She’arim neighbourhood in New Jerusalem. The guide describes this part of Jerusalem in this way: “neighbourhood with squat, stone-fronted buildings, balconies adorned with drying laundry, bearded figures in black, and long-skirted mums pushing shopping carts trailed by a gaggle of smartly dressed children”. It is so very true! This neighbourhood was developed by ultra-Orthodox Eastern European immigrant Jews who modeled their Jerusalem home on the ones they remembered back in Poland, Germany and Hungary. They still maintain their customs, habits and dress of 18^th century Eastern Europe.

One of the streets of the Mea She'arim, Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon

The people seem to be quite poor and families are typically large. We saw so many people on the road, especially young people and children. The days of these people are often spent in prayer and business is a secondary pursuit – religious study is frequently subsidized by fellow ultra-Orthodox communities abroad.

There are signs fixed on the walls as you are entering this neighbourhood saying that tourists going through their streets to observe them are considered to be an offense. Other posters ask passers-by to be decently dressed and to observe a conservative mode of behavior.

The Via Crucis

On Monday, with Prof. Eugenio Alliatta OFM, we went to visit the way of the Via Crucis. He said that in Medieval times pilgrims would do the so-called Santo Circolo (Holy Circle), since they used to leave from the Ospizio dei Pellegrini, at the Muristan, close to the Holy Sepulchre and return back to it, after they had visited several places including the Gethsemane and the pool of Siloah. This devotion had to be done very early in the morning before the rising of the sun, because once there was light Muslim children could begin throwing stones at them.

The first station was right in the square adjacent to the Holy Sepulchre. In the middle of the square there was a slab which stated that there was a station there, just before entering the Holy Sepulchre. Prof. Alliatta told us that on that stone, at least two Christians were burned to death: a Portuguese woman and a Franciscan Friar.

The House of Dives (the Rich Man)
of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

An English Pilgrim, William Way, wrote a poem (in Latin) which was mnemonic, in order to help remember the different places visited during this procession in 1458. He mentions, among others: lapis: the stone referred to above upon which fell with his cross; strata dives: the street which Jesus walked upon, going past the house of the rich man (Dives) and that of the poor man (spoken of in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke 16,19-31); the Trium, where the three roads meet and where Simon of Cyrene was called to help Jesus; the Flent, where the women were crying for Jesus; Sudar – where the widow Veronica put the veil upon the face of Jesus; sincopizavit – where the Mother of Jesus, Mary, saw Jesus and wept; and others. As one could see, there are references which do not form part of the traditional way of the cross. Thus the memory made in the Santo Circolo was a more complex memory. This helped pilgrims come closer to the whole Gospel.

Today, archaeologists are discussing where the Pretorium would have been. While some 30 years ago it was generally accepted that it was where the Antonia Fortress is said to be, today this is highly put into question. There are several hypotheses as to where the process before Pilate would have taken place. If a conclusion is someday found, it would influence from where the Via Crucis passes.

Procession at Holy Sepulchre

On Tuesday evening I participated again in the daily procession at the Holy Sepulchre. I have already spoken about this procession in my earlier blogs; it reminds us of the liturgical processions of the Ancient Church of Jerusalem, which are referred to by the pilgrim Egeria (392-394). In 1431, the pilgrim Mariano of Siena says that the Franciscans did this procession following more or less the same path of the procession as it is done today, although somewhat shorter.

A woman lighting a candle on Calvary.

There are fourteen stations are:

1. Altar of the Most Blessed Sacrament

2. Pillar of Scourging of the Lord

3. At the Prison

4. Dividing of Christ’s Garments

5. Crypt where the Cross was found

6. Chapel of St Helen

7. Pillar: Crowning with Thorns and Reproaches

8. Calvary: Where our Lord Jesus was crucified

9. Calvary: Where our Lord Jesus died on the Cross

10. Calvary: Altar of Mary, Mother of Sorrows

11. Site of the Anointing of the Body of Christ

12. Glorious Sepulchre of Our Lord Jesus Christ

13. Where the Risen Christ appeared to Mary Magdalen

14. Where the Risen Christ appeared to Mary, his Mother

The Chapel of the Franciscans at the Holy Sepulchre
Here the First and the Last Station of the Daily Procession
are celebrated

Every station has a hymn, an antiphon, and a prayer. Between each station an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory be are chanted. The procession ends with the Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

Some of the prayers said are truly beautiful. Let me just give some few examples. One of the stanzas of the hymn “at the prison” says (translation is by Fr Mitch Pacwa SJ):

Free your servants by your word,

Bind the demons who plague us still

Give us, then, O Jesus Lord

Your tender all-embracing love.

The Station of the Crowning with Thorns and Reproaches

And a stanza of the fourth station:

Here we beg for inner power

You, of worlds the master builder,

Were stripped of plain homespun robes

Cover us now, form us in virtue.

The Place of the Anointing before being buried

This is the prayer said at the end of the eighth station:

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, who at the sixth hour of the day mounted the throne of the Cross for the redemption of the world, and poured forth your precious blood for the forgiveness of our sins, we humbly pray you that after our death the gates of heaven will open and you will joyfully welcome us.

There are others, but I do not want to make it too long!

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Just a few weeks ago the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer opened to the public some new excavations made beneath the Church and an adjacent Museum. These excavations are very well presented – German style! The importance of these excavations are linked particularly with the Second Wall built by Herod the Great. This wall has so far eluded archaeologists. It is important in order to establish that the site of the Golgotha was truly outside of the City Walls. Up to now, although archaeologists have not found a trace of the wall, it is commonly agreed that it passed somewhere close to the Muristan region. These excavations included a new shaft all the way to the natural stone. This has confirmed that the area, where the Holy Sepulchre is, lies outside the city wall in the time of Jesus.

The Dome of the Rock with its esplanade
and the Mt of Olives from the Bell Tower of the Redeemer's Church

Afterwards we had the opportunity to climb the Bell Tower which gives you a great view of Jerusalem. Unfortunately, yesterday was a rainy day so the view – although marvelous – was somehow dampened.

The Domes of the Holy Sepulchre
and the Church of San Salvatore in the background

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Latin American community is celebrating today (December 12) the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patron Saint of the Americas. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Patron of the Americas

A Solemn Mass was celebrated this afternoon at San Salvatore by the Custodian of the Holy Land with the special participation of Latin Americans, and Mexicans in particular. The Mass was celebrated in Spanish with beautiful Spanish songs. Oh how I love them! 

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrated in Jerusalem

There followed a small procession to the Curia of the Custody where a small reception was held with Mexican food! Delicious!

Mexican ... any doubt!

Titbits

Smells – Passing through the narrow streets of Jerusalem one is able to smell so many different smells: from the perfume of incense to the smell of spices to the stench of rubbish still yearning to be picked up.

Faces – beautiful, ugly, smooth, rugged, young, old, smiling, angry, welcoming, suspective …

Invitation (most shops): Welcome! From where are you? Come in. Just look! We speak English, Italian, Polish, Russian … even Maltese sometimes!

Crosses – the person who rents crosses to pilgrims so that they can use them for the Way of the Cross is a Muslim. Probably few persons in the world have carried crosses as much as he did! But ... he does it for at least US$50 each cross!!

14-pointed star of Bethlehem: it is suggested that refers to the three-fold “fourteen generations” of Jesus’ genealogy given in the Gospel of Matthew (1,1-17). The last verse puts emphasis on the “fourteen generations”. The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew has three sections with fourteen generations each.  The place where the breaks are located is significant.  The first break is with David.  Matthew’s Gospel makes the point that Jesus is the “Son of David,” the expected Messiah described in the Old Testament.  The second break is at the exile.  Jesus, as the Saviour, would be born to bring his people out of the exile.

The 14-pointed Star of Bethlehem, where Jesus, the Son of David, was born

Nazareth Mysteries of the Rosary: On Tuesdays, as I said in an earlier blog, Rosary is said in the Basilica of the Annunciation at Nazareth. The following Mysteries especially linked to Nazareth are meditated upon:

 The Annunciation of Mary

The Annunciation of Joseph

Return of the Holy Family to Nazareth

Obedience of Jesus to his Parents

Growth of Jesus in Grace and in Years before God and Man.

Hannukkah: The Jews are celebrating at the moment the Festival of the Hannukkah. It is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means "dedication". The name reminds us that this holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. during the time of the Maccabees. Every year it is customary to commemorate the miracle of the Hanukkah oil by lighting candles on a hanukkiyah (different from the Menorah, which has 7 candles). The hanukkiyah is lit every night for eight nights.

Some streets in Jerusalem are decorated with Hannukkah lights.

According to Jewish law, Hanukkah is one of the less important Jewish holidays. However, Hanukkah has become much more popular in modern practice because of its proximity to Christmas. 

St Nicholas, Major Seminary, Hebrew Parish, Taizé

These past days were quite serene after the hectic days that I had the previous week which included the visit to Bethlehem and to Galilee and the Golan Heights. However, I still had an opportunity to make some very meaningful experiences here in the Holy Land.

The beautiful Icon which adorns the Iconostasis
\of the Orthodox Church dedicated to St Nicholas in Beit Jala

St Nicholas

I wanted to give the feast of St Nicholas a local touch. In the past days, doing some research on the internet, I found out that there is a tradition which says that St Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, has visited the Holy Land and, while here, he stayed in a grotto quite close to Bethlehem in the city called Beit Jala (some 2 kilometers away from the nativity grotto). It seems that this formed part of a monastery which was built on this site as early as the third century. Today, the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas is built on this grotto. 

The Grotto where it is believed that St Nicholas stayed
for about three years while visiting the Holy Land

The present Church dates back to 1925. According to the website of the Beit Jala Municipality, “the church shows off much of the work of Beit Jala’s famous stone masons, including a magnificent Iconostas, considered a masterpiece of stone iconography”. The reliquary has manna brought over from Bari (Italy), where the tomb of St Nicholas is found.

The Orthodox Church of St Nicholas at Beit Jala

The inside of the Church of St Nicholas

The Reliquary with the Manna of St Nicholas, brought from Bari (Italy)
where the Saint is buried.

The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of St Nicholas on December 19, since they follow the Justinian Calendar. There is a whole programme of activities leading up to St Nicholas’ Day.

The Poster with the Programme of Activities in preparation for St Nicholas' Day
The Orthodox celebrate this feast on December 19.

He is considered to be the Protector of Beit Jala. It is said that following the declaration of independence by Israel in 1948, “no bombs reached Beit Jala. Only the tower of the St. Nicholas Church was damaged. We know it was St. Nicholas that saved Beit Jala from any problems.” In one particular icon, there are depictions of three other instances when St Nicholas protected the city from bombs: one refers to the six-day war in 1967, another to the first intifada and the third to the rescue of a young Muslim man. The sacristan of the Church narrated the story of this young man. He said that he was close to the Church when he heard someone telling him to move out, because that was a dangerous place. Turning around, he saw no one. Again he heard the voice but hesitated to move. Finally, a mysterious hand led him away from the place. As soon as they moved a shell fell right where he was standing.

The Icon which depicts the protection of St Nicholas of Beit Jala

It is quite common to hear such sentiments as this one when speaking to Beit Jala residents: “We love St. Nicholas. He has special feelings in his heart for all the people of Beit Jala. All the people here wait for this day.” I was told that there are many who carry the name of Nicholas in Beit Jala.

Major Seminary

Right across the road from the Orthodox Church is the Seminary of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This seminary has been built in the mid-19^th century. There are, at the moment, 31 seminarians studying here. The Latin Patriarchate covers a number of countries including Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Syria. There are also three other seminarians who are studying in other seminaries in Europe.

The Major Seminary Community Chapel

We were shown around the Seminary by the Rector Fr Adib Zoomot. We had also the chance to greet some of the seminarians who were in-between lectures.

With the Rector of the Seminary of the Latin Patriarchate.
From right: Myself, Fr Joseph OFM (Hong Kong); Fr Luis (Korea);
Fr Abid (Rector); Fr Issa (from Jordan, studying in Jerusalem)

An artist has also made an icon of Jesus dressed as a seminarian in the hands of Mary. The original icon is placed in the library, while a copy of it is placed in the Major Seminary Chapel.

Jesus dressed as a Seminarian
Icon venerated at the Seminary in Beit Jala

The main Church of the building serves as the Catholic Parish Church for Beit Jala.

The Wall dividing Israel from the Palestinian Territories
features high in cribs done in the area!
This crib is in front of the Parish Church in Beit Jala

Hebrew-Speaking Parish

On Tuesday, I had the occasion to be present for the celebration of the Eucharist of the Hebrew Parish of the Latin Patriarchate. They meet in the parish house which is situated at 10, Rav Kook Street, close to Jaffa Street. Originally this was a Franciscan Convent dedicated to St Simeon and St Anne. The community leader was then Father Pier Battista Pizzaballa OFM, who is now the Custodian of the Holy Land. At present, the priest in charge of the Jerusalem community (kehilla) is Father Piotr Zelazko, while Fr David Neuhaus (an Israeli Jesuit) is the Vicar for the Hebrew communities (kehillot). Mass is celebrated daily at 6.30 pm. The Jerusalem community consists of Israelis and members from other countries.

The Church of the Hebrew-speaking Catholic Community (kehilla)
in Jerusalem

When I visited there was also a group of pilgrims from Australia who attended Mass, as well as a group of young Jewish students who are doing a course on Christianity. Fr Zelacko presided the Eucharist. There were three other priests con-celebrating, including Fr Neuhaus.

I was invited to this community by an Italian young man, Benedetto, who decided to become a seminarian preparing himself to serve these Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities in the State of Israel. There are six such communities in Israel.

These form part of the Association of Saint James, which was founded in 1955. Saint James was the head of the Jerusalem community of believers in Jesus at the time of the apostles. A pious Jew, he worked to establish a community made up of Jews and non-Jews, united in their common faith in Jesus as the Messiah (see the Book of Acts, chapter 15). For those interested to learn more about these communities can visit this website: http://www.catholic.co.il/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en

Taizé Meeting

On Sunday evening, I attended a Taizé Prayer Meeting at the Ratisbonne Salesian Monastery, here in Jerusalem. This prayer meeting is held every month. Bro Emile, from the community of Taizé participated in the meeting. In the morning, Bro Emile gave also a beautiful presentation of the Taizé community and its particular charism to the Franciscan students at San Salvatore Monastery.

The Taize' Meeting in Jerusalem

Holy Sepulchre

On Monday, as part of our excursions to several places in Jerusalem with Prof. Eugenio Alliata, we visited the area around the Holy Sepulchre and then within the Church itself. It was a very interesting visit which exposed the complex history of this very sacred place for Christians of all denominations. A particularity which struck my attention was within the Russian Orthodox Monastery annexed to the Holy Sepulchre. Some excavations were made there and they found what they call the Judgement Gate. They claim that Jesus passed through that Gate on his way out of the Old City to the area called Golgotha. However, Prof. Alliata said that this gate comes from a later period to that of Jesus.

The Judgement Gate within the Russian Orthodox Monastery

Anglican Religious

A final note: this week I had the privilege to sit for meals side by side to Bro Clark Berge SSF, the Minister General of the Society of St Francis. These are Franciscan Brothers in the Anglican Communion. They were founded around 100 years ago. There exists also a female section. Speaking about several things, he told me that, more or less, they follow the Catholic Liturgical Calendar, including the Marian feasts, such as the Assumption of Mary (some call it Lady's Day) and the Immaculate Conception. It was truly an enriching experience to have had the possibility to share this time with Bro Clark.

The Refectory at San Salvatore Monastery
where I have been warmly welcomed by the Franciscans.