Acre, a millenary city whose excavations indicate an age dating back to about 3000 years BC. The first citations of the place are contained in Egyptian texts of the nineteenth century BC, when the Promised Land was divided by drawing lots among the tribes of Israel. Acre was attributed to the tribe of Aser, however, the Israelites could not conquer it. Because of its strategic coastal position, this town was continuously inhabited by many peoples over the centuries. The Christian presence is attested to in the cit. At the end of year 58 of the Christian era, when Paul and his companions, on their return from their third missionary journey from Tire, left for Tolemaide, the name given to Acre by the Greeks, as described in the book of Acts of the Apostles. Here, they met the local Christian brothers and stayed one day, and then headed to Caesarea the following day. Close to the feast of St. Francis, on October 4, Acre is remembered in a special way because it is the place where the saint visited between 1219 and 1220, after meeting the Sultan Malek-El-Kamel in Damietta in Egypt. Starting from this era, the convent of Acre became the seat of the Franciscan province by the sea. After the invasion of the Mamelukes, with stories of the martyrdom of about 30 thousand Christians in Acre, including Friars from the Order of Friars Minor and Poor Clares, it was only in 1620 that it was possible to re-establish a Franciscan presence in the city. In 1737, near the lighthouse and overlooking the sea, the Church of St. John the Baptist was built, which now houses the parish of the small Roman Catholic community. Signs of the legacy and life of the Poor man of Assisi that have always attracted and continues to attract all generations! Fr. NAOKI ATARASHI, ofm Convent of Saint Francis - Acre "Here in Acre we dedicate ourselves to the local population. So, dialogue is that of spirituality, with Muslims and even Christians of different denominations. We must always be ready to meet people and dialogue. Here, for example, school children want some explanations and not just about the church, but also about life; our lives and what we do". Currently, Acre has about 50 thousand inhabitants, a quarter of which are Arabs, mostly Muslims. Of this totality 2.5% are Christian, most of them “Melchite” - Greek Catholic. Historical signs can still be seen in the old part of the city. A place to enjoy beautiful landscapes and even relax while fishing! Read More