For eight centuries the Holy Land has welcomed the presence of Friars Minor. In the footsteps of the founding father, who visited the places of Jesus’ life himself, Saint Francis’ disciples took on the responsibility of guarding “Outremer lands” to guarantee believers and pilgrims the chance to visit the lands of Salvation. Over the centuries the Custody of the Holy Land has never reneged on its mission: preserving the holy sites, sustaining local Christians and keeping an intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
In the 8th centenary through a wider selection of initiatives organized by the Custody of the Holy Land, the General Library wants to celebrate the starting point of this centuries-old history: the exhibition Francis of Assisi through the Ancient Books of the Custody of the Holy Land, on a journey through images, hagiographic texts and editions of Francis’ works, wants to talk about the person of Francis of Assisi using a selection of 28 manuscripts and ancient books stored in the Library.
An exhibition catalogue has also been set up, full of pictures and written both in English and Italian, published by ATS Pro Terra Sancta. To deepen the topics linked to the relationship between the digital world and the fruition of the ancient book heritage, an international meeting is scheduled for 8 th November - Ancient books and digital libraries, between cataloguing and virtual fruition of the cultural heritage. An international meeting in Jerusalem.
Proposing again the experimental model of the latter edition, this event will offer significant contributions to an extremely important topic for the future role of libraries and it will also be an opportunity to meet one another for different libraries in Jerusalem. A time for mutual dialogue and update among some of the many cultural identities in the Holy City. The whole meeting will be held in English and will take place on Wednesday 8th November 2017, from 2 pm to 5 pm, in Room Saint Francis in the building of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem (New Gate).
This initiative falls in the project “Books, Bridges of Peace” which aims to the promotion of the book heritage of the General Library of the Holy Land and to turn it into a chance to have real moments of knowledge and dialogue between the different parts of Jerusalem. The initiative is part of a wider collaboration project between the Custody of the Holy Land and Università Cattolica di Milano, thanks also to the synergy between ATS Pro Terra Sancta and Centro di Ricerca Europeo Libro Editoria Biblioteca (CRELEB). Free entry to the exhibition. Guided visits in Italian, English and French will be available.
Save the date
Francis of Assisi through the ancient books of the Custody of the Holy Land
7 th – 9 th November 2017
h. 9 am - 6 pm
Hall of the Franciscan Custody Curia, New Gate, Jerusalem
Ancient books and digital libraries, between cataloguing and virtual fruition of the cultural heritage. An international meeting in Jerusalem
Jerusalem 8th November 2017, h. 14-17
Room St. Francis, Custody of Holy Land, New Gate, Jerusalem
