Every year, on the evening of Good Friday, the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem hosts one of the most moving celebrations of Christianity in the Holy Land: the Funeral Procession of Christ. This rite, dating back to the 15th century, evokes the descent of Christ from the cross and his burial, as told in the Gospels, and takes place exactly where tradition situates the events of the Passion. The ceremony starts in the Chapel of the Apparition, where […]
In view of the imminent canonization of the Martyrs of Damascus on 20 October, the original large canvases which were used at St Peter’s on their beatification – almost a century ago, on 10 October 1926 – were unrolled and opened again in the main hall of the Curia of the Custody on 24 July. The five large frescoed canvases, kept in the Custody’s stores, revealed the faces of the eleven martyrs – of whom 7 were Spanish friars, one […]
On the solemnity of St. Joseph the Worker, May 1, the Custody of the Holy Land joined the celebrations for the inauguration of the new roof of Dar al Majus, the office of Pro Terra Santa in Bethlehem. The new roof, made of glass handmade in Hebron, was designed by architect Vincenzo Zuppardo, who has long worked with the Holy Land in service of the preservation and enhancement of holy sites and beyond. In addition to the various employees and […]
On 17th December, an event was held in the Vatican under the patronage of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, when three people, who have stood out in their lives in the fight against poverty, were received and rewarded. The distinction for this commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable was awarded to them by Pope Francis on the day of his birthday, as a sign of gratitude for the tireless work by these three “examples of charity”. The recipients of […]
