Two months after the historic signature of an agreement by the three Christian confessions, guardians of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, to restore the roof of the building, President Mahmoud Abbas who, after having finally got the Churches to reach an agreement, came to see for himself the means deployed for the studies that will determine the choices on the nature of the works to be implemented.
Whilst the initial agreement is for the restoration of the roof, the whole of the Basilica is the object of study, so the Palestinian President saw at work a team of experts in mosaics and medieval architecture whom he thanked for putting their skills at the service of this extensive project.
As soon as they arrive, the teams of experts fall under the charm of the Basilica one after the other. Each of them now knows it better, as far as their own field of expertise is concerned, better than all the guidebooks put together. Firstly because they can visit every nook and cranny, whether open to the public or not, under the custody of the Greek Orthodox, the Armenians and the Franciscans. Secondly, because their instruments and their knowledge give them direct access to a science that only Father Bagatti and after him Father Piccirillo had approached. Their work and articles are still such a precious foundation that all the researchers buy Father Bagatti’s book “The ancient buildings of Bethlehem”.
However, the books on the Basilica will have to be updated in a few months. “If the methodology has changed a great deal compared to the 1940s and 50s – when Father Bagatti worked on the building – the greatest difference today is in the technology,” explains Stefano, an archaeologist whose speciality is the medieval period. This technical work contributes its share of revelations: from the bottom to the top the structure of the Basilica is Justinian without any major modification by the Crusaders. Michele, with a PhD in the history of art, hopes to be able to admire the decorations applied during the Crusades as soon as possible; Nicola, an eminent specialist in mosaics, is amazed by the technical expertise in the frescos which were done with a “trompe l’œil” effect to be seen from below; Stefano will not rest until he can find the colours of the saints painted on the columns under layers of smoke and the dust; Elisabetta lovingly looks at the mosaics on the floor. All the researchers have to complete two preliminary reports before the final report due on 15th March.
We can presume that the surprise for the guardians of the Basilica, as for the Palestinian Authority, will be to read that they are all unanimous in requesting not only the restoration of the roof, but also that of the frescos, the mosaics, the stones, the woodwork… in a word, a gigantic building site. “There are five or six monuments from this period in the world, in a good state of repair and that are still used for their initial purpose. This Basilica is a splendour, but it is in danger, not only because it is fourteen centuries old but because it is visited every year – less these past two years – by two and a half million people and that the humidity given off by the bodies, the carbonic gases and the accumulated weight of 2.5 million people following the same route to go to the same place leave their marks on the building and accelerates its degradation. Without pilgrims, the Basilica can last another fourteen centuries, with them, it has to be preserved,” explained Giorgio, an engineer.
In the hypothesis that the Churches continue to show their unity to save this treasure of Christianity, the funds necessary will have to be raised and neither the local Church nor the Palestinian Authority will be able to do so alone. It will be a question of being particularly imaginative and open to the propositions which, we hope, will flow in from all over the world.
Mab
Whilst the initial agreement is for the restoration of the roof, the whole of the Basilica is the object of study, so the Palestinian President saw at work a team of experts in mosaics and medieval architecture whom he thanked for putting their skills at the service of this extensive project.
As soon as they arrive, the teams of experts fall under the charm of the Basilica one after the other. Each of them now knows it better, as far as their own field of expertise is concerned, better than all the guidebooks put together. Firstly because they can visit every nook and cranny, whether open to the public or not, under the custody of the Greek Orthodox, the Armenians and the Franciscans. Secondly, because their instruments and their knowledge give them direct access to a science that only Father Bagatti and after him Father Piccirillo had approached. Their work and articles are still such a precious foundation that all the researchers buy Father Bagatti’s book “The ancient buildings of Bethlehem”.
However, the books on the Basilica will have to be updated in a few months. “If the methodology has changed a great deal compared to the 1940s and 50s – when Father Bagatti worked on the building – the greatest difference today is in the technology,” explains Stefano, an archaeologist whose speciality is the medieval period. This technical work contributes its share of revelations: from the bottom to the top the structure of the Basilica is Justinian without any major modification by the Crusaders. Michele, with a PhD in the history of art, hopes to be able to admire the decorations applied during the Crusades as soon as possible; Nicola, an eminent specialist in mosaics, is amazed by the technical expertise in the frescos which were done with a “trompe l’œil” effect to be seen from below; Stefano will not rest until he can find the colours of the saints painted on the columns under layers of smoke and the dust; Elisabetta lovingly looks at the mosaics on the floor. All the researchers have to complete two preliminary reports before the final report due on 15th March.
We can presume that the surprise for the guardians of the Basilica, as for the Palestinian Authority, will be to read that they are all unanimous in requesting not only the restoration of the roof, but also that of the frescos, the mosaics, the stones, the woodwork… in a word, a gigantic building site. “There are five or six monuments from this period in the world, in a good state of repair and that are still used for their initial purpose. This Basilica is a splendour, but it is in danger, not only because it is fourteen centuries old but because it is visited every year – less these past two years – by two and a half million people and that the humidity given off by the bodies, the carbonic gases and the accumulated weight of 2.5 million people following the same route to go to the same place leave their marks on the building and accelerates its degradation. Without pilgrims, the Basilica can last another fourteen centuries, with them, it has to be preserved,” explained Giorgio, an engineer.
In the hypothesis that the Churches continue to show their unity to save this treasure of Christianity, the funds necessary will have to be raised and neither the local Church nor the Palestinian Authority will be able to do so alone. It will be a question of being particularly imaginative and open to the propositions which, we hope, will flow in from all over the world.
Mab