To Whom it may Concern
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land is obliged to state the following:
The work presently being carried out by the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) on the ancient sealed door known as Mary’s Gate, which is located on Christian Quarter road in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the sole and entire initiative of the same Israeli Antiquities Authority.
The Custody of the Holy Land never asked the IAA to do this work nor did the Custody give its permission. In fact the representatives of the Custody informed representatives of the IAA of the sensitive nature of this door. It must be stated that the Custody asked that no change to this door be made, and that the iron bars protecting the door be left in their present state, precisely because behind this sealed door is the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Sepulchre Church.
The Custody would like to state for the record that the Status quo regarding this ancient door must be left unchanged.
This statement is made to counter totally false charges that this work was somehow initiated by the Custody of the Holy Land.
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land is obliged to state the following:
The work presently being carried out by the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) on the ancient sealed door known as Mary’s Gate, which is located on Christian Quarter road in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the sole and entire initiative of the same Israeli Antiquities Authority.
The Custody of the Holy Land never asked the IAA to do this work nor did the Custody give its permission. In fact the representatives of the Custody informed representatives of the IAA of the sensitive nature of this door. It must be stated that the Custody asked that no change to this door be made, and that the iron bars protecting the door be left in their present state, precisely because behind this sealed door is the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Sepulchre Church.
The Custody would like to state for the record that the Status quo regarding this ancient door must be left unchanged.
This statement is made to counter totally false charges that this work was somehow initiated by the Custody of the Holy Land.