A fruitful exchange between Franciscans and Dominicans in Jerusalem
On Saturday, 8 November, in the Old City of Jerusalem, approximately 120 students and professors from the École Biblique et Archéologique Française (ÉBAF) and the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (SBF) gathered in the Immacolata auditorium of the San Salvatore priory for the Dies Academicus, the annual opening session organised jointly by the two institutions.
In their welcoming remarks, Brothers Rosario Pierri, OFM, Dean of the SBF, and Olivier Poquillon, OP, Director of the ÉBAF, in a spirit of fraternity and collaboration, recalled the importance of constant dialogue between researchers, archaeologists and exegetes working in Jerusalem and of high-quality scientific research, not for its own sake, but also for the world in which we live, in the service of all.
The opening lecture was given by Professor Eugenio Alliata, OFM, director of the SBF Archaeological Museum, on the theme: “Il museo dello Studium Biblicum Franciscanum – Molte vite, una storia” (The Museum of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum – Many Lives, One History). Through a richly illustrated presentation, he traced the genesis and multiple transformations of the museum, a privileged witness to more than a century of Franciscan archaeological research in the Holy Land, not failing to highlight the interactions between the two institutions.
Brother Anthony Giambrone during his intervention at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum
Brother Anthony Giambrone, OP, Deputy Director of the ÉBAF in charge of academic matters, then outlined the current main directions of research at the École Biblique: deepening the dialogue between exegesis and archaeology, strengthening collaboration between partner institutions, and supporting the training of young researchers in the unique setting offered by Jerusalem, through doctoral work, but also through certificates issued by the ÉBAF and preparation for the canonical licence.
Fr Olivier Poquillon in conversation with Franciscan brothers
The morning ended with a rich retrospective by Fr Rosario on the main publications and achievements of the SBF over the past year.