In the city of Florence, the collaboration between the Terra Sancta Museum in Jerusalem and the ‘Marino Marini’ Museum finally allowed a unique exhibition to open in the Tuscan capital on 13 September. This is an exhibition that celebrates the great cultural bond between Italy and the Holy Land, bringing 108 works of extraordinary historical and artistic value to Europe. Br MATTEO BRENA, ofm Commissioner of the Holy Land, Florence The interaction between the commission of the Holy Land, civil institutions and cultural institutions, allows us to promote the spiritual heritage. But also the cultural and artistic heritage that the custody has accumulated over the centuries. Therefore the promotion does not only take place in the holy places but also in the territories that have had for centuries a focus on these important places Br STÉPHANE MILOVITCH, ofm Director of the Terra Sancta Museum In this chapel of the Rucellai, where we are at this moment, there is a replica of the Edicola of the Holy Sepulcher, which comes from Tuscany, from the 1500s. We have brought the altar of Calvary, which is also a Florentine gift, from the Grand Duke of Tuscany, from the same period. We therefore have in this place the altar linked to the death of Jesus and the place where Christ rose from the dead. This is the reason why the exhibition takes place here. We are pleased to present part of the collections of the Terra Sancta Museum, which were first presented in Lisbon, then in Compostela, here today, and tomorrow in other locations, before the opening of the Terra Sancta Museum. But it is not only an exhibition of extraordinary artistic value, all the initiatives of the Terra Sancta Museum are part of a deeper path, which aims to build peace through culture. Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land The series of works on display, which are about a hundred works that are part of the Treasury of the Holy Land, are works that in some way also make one appreciate the beauty of what will be the future museum of the Holy Land. And this future museum of the Holy Land, we want it to be a place of dialogue, of encounter. And therefore a place that also makes a contribution, through the experience of beauty, to building a culture of peace. Br STÉPHANE MILOVITCH, OFM Director of the Terra Sancta Museum We hope they will be a reason to invite those who come here to pray for peace in the Holy Land and also for peace in the world. Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land I would say, through beauty, one day we will also heal the wounds of a land that has unfortunately known little peace and has known too much of the ugliness of war. Read More