A dive into the history of the Holy Sepulcher through the ancient volumes of the Library of the Custody of the Holy Land. From Nov. 7 to 11, the Custody of the Holy Land's headquarters in Jerusalem is hosting the exhibition Witness to the Resurrection. Br. ROSARIO PIERRI, ofm Dean Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "The Holy Sepulcher constitutes the center of Christian pilgrimage. Christian pilgrimage has a different focus from other pilgrimages: Christ is the reference point." The exhibition is part of the "Bridges of Peace" project, which for the past 12 years has seen collaboration between the European Research Center for Books, Publishing, Library (Creleb) of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the Custody of the Holy Land and the Pro Terra Sancta Association and - this year - also the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Prof. EDOARDO BARBIERI Creleb Director – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "The idea is very simple: to see if the enhancement of the Library's holdings allows it to become a meeting tool in some way. To make sure that the Library's material can be communicated in a simple and effective way, becoming an opportunity where others can also take part in this operation." The opening of the exhibition was well attended and the initiative was appreciated: Dr. ANASTASIA KESHMAN Researcher and tour guide “The exhibition is not very big, but it’s very precious: the books are rare and the explanations that come with the books are really interesting.” Br. ROSARIO PIERRI, ofm Dean Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "It is as if a pilgrim also acquires archaeological, cultural data, not just spiritual data, and this is combined with the incarnate God, who is the God of history, and this is for me the work that is being done in these years." The exhibition is divided into three sections and tells the story of the Holy Sepulcher through the eyes of pilgrims, onlookers and scholars, from the 15th to the 20th century. In the first section, visitors are taken on a discovery of the Basilica by the stories (and drawings) of pilgrims. The second section presents various illustrated volumes, with a more aesthetic purpose. The approach of the third section is scientific and technical. Of particular importance are the works of Franciscan Bernardino Amico. Br. LIONEL GOH, ofm Director - Library of the Custody of the Holy Land “This is the purpose of the library: not just to conserve the written memories of the friars, but also to make them available to the new generations. That they may become part of this memory, that they may become part of this tradition and continue the work that was done 800 years ago.” Read More