On Wednesday, November 10 at 9 a.m., at the Auditorium of the Immaculata, the Dies Academicus of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum and the Ecole Biblique of Jerusalem took place. An event that is repeated every year, but this time saw the extraordinary presence of His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos. They were both welcomed by the custodial vicar, Father Ibrahim Faltas. An attendance related to the subject of the brilliant lecture given by Prof. Ofer Sion, on settlements in the Negev in Byzantine times. Prof. Sion, an internationally renowned archaeologist has conducted over six years of study in this specific field, publishing his academic results at the Studium Biblicum Byzantine. Prof OFIR SION Archaeologist "If there are people who want to know anything about the Byzantine Negev, I am more than available. I think the issue of settlements in the Negev is absolutely crucial not only for the past but also and especially for the future of this region." The meeting was sponsored and moderated by Brother Rosario Pierri, dean of the Biblicum, and Father Olivier Poquillon, newly appointed director of the Ecole Biblique. Fr OLIVIER POQUILLON, op Director of the Ecole Biblique What we are doing today through these studies of the Christian presence in the Negev during the Byzantine period is absolutely symptomatic of what we are always doing: going beyond appearance, into this desert that seems barren and empty but is actually full of life and history. All we can learn from this history, what we can learn for our world today and how we can pass it on. Br ROSARIO PIERRI, ofm Dean of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "This collaboration with biblical has now lasted for decades and stems from the awareness of living together in Jerusalem and offering something that is done in common even though in two different institutions." It is on this day that the great function that religious people have in this Land is manifested in a very special way. Fr OLIVIER POQUILLON, op Director of the Ecole Biblique "For us religious orders, culture is the sphere where incarnation is produced where we hear God's call to work for the common good which is by no means a given. Man always has a tendency to retreat into himself; culture, on the other hand, is what unites us. For its part, religion unites us with God. Religion unites men with each other. The two dimensions of transcendence and fraternity are what we want to live. Culture and education are really essential to consolidate peace because if we do not have a common vocabulary, we can never understand each other." Br ROSARIO PIERRI, ofm Dean of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "As early as the 16th century there were Franciscans studying local traditions, which is what we do today by relating local traditions to sacred scripture in order to read scripture more adequately." Fr OLIVIER POQUILLON, op Director of the Ecole Biblique Today it is more important than ever that we are here to seek and pursue beyond appearances the truth. Read More