Saturday, December 13th, Fr. Artemio Vitores was distinguished by his country, Spain, in recognition of his life given to the Custody in the Holy Land.
He was appointed a member of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in a ceremony celebrated Saturday, December 13th at the General Consulate of Spain in Jerusalem. The Spanish ambassador of Israel, Fernando Carderera, and the General Consul of Jerusalem, Juan José Escobar, were present in the ceremony.
Its current function is to "reward the extraordinary behaviour of civil nature, made by Spanish and foreign people who acted in favour of the Spanish nation or contributed significantly to foster relations of friendship and cooperation between the Spanish nation and the rest of the international community."
This distinction depends on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The grand master of the order is the king of Spain. It recognizes "the extraordinary behavior of civil nature, made by Spanish and foreign people who acted in favor of the Spanish nation or contributed significantly to foster relations of friendship and cooperation between the Spanish nation and the rest of the international community ".
The General Consul clarified that this award "is a tribute from the government and the royal family dedicated to the work of Fr. Artemio’s that has lived in this region since 1970. He explained to the pilgrims the history of the Custody and the role that Spain has played in it. In this sense, says the Consul, for many years he has played the role of ambassador of the Spanish March".
"This award represents the recognition of a life given to the Custody and all the attention to visitors, said the Spanish ambassador. It is therefore the recognition of the work of the Custody of the Holy Land itself.”
In his acceptance speech, Fr. Artemio underlined the importance of this honour, which recognizes primarily the work of Spain in the Holy Land through the Franciscans that allowed keeping and maintaining the Holy places. He especially remembered Isabella the Catholic. She not only asked to be buried in Franciscan robes, but also established the custom to make regular donations to the Holy Land, custom maintained by the Spanish Crown until the 19th century. He also mentioned another General Consul in Jerusalem, Antonio La Cierva, Earl of Ballobar and Duke of Terranova, which prevented the Turks to destroy the St. Saviour Convent when they left Jerusalem in 1917.
To conclude, Fr. Artemio said that "this award is a way of thanking all the Spanish religious who have given their lives to the Holy Land. This was also the case of Justo Artaraz brother, who died last month, who dedicated his whole life to the Holy Land."
Jaime Gutiérrez Moreno and MAB
He was appointed a member of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in a ceremony celebrated Saturday, December 13th at the General Consulate of Spain in Jerusalem. The Spanish ambassador of Israel, Fernando Carderera, and the General Consul of Jerusalem, Juan José Escobar, were present in the ceremony.
Its current function is to "reward the extraordinary behaviour of civil nature, made by Spanish and foreign people who acted in favour of the Spanish nation or contributed significantly to foster relations of friendship and cooperation between the Spanish nation and the rest of the international community."
This distinction depends on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The grand master of the order is the king of Spain. It recognizes "the extraordinary behavior of civil nature, made by Spanish and foreign people who acted in favor of the Spanish nation or contributed significantly to foster relations of friendship and cooperation between the Spanish nation and the rest of the international community ".
The General Consul clarified that this award "is a tribute from the government and the royal family dedicated to the work of Fr. Artemio’s that has lived in this region since 1970. He explained to the pilgrims the history of the Custody and the role that Spain has played in it. In this sense, says the Consul, for many years he has played the role of ambassador of the Spanish March".
"This award represents the recognition of a life given to the Custody and all the attention to visitors, said the Spanish ambassador. It is therefore the recognition of the work of the Custody of the Holy Land itself.”
In his acceptance speech, Fr. Artemio underlined the importance of this honour, which recognizes primarily the work of Spain in the Holy Land through the Franciscans that allowed keeping and maintaining the Holy places. He especially remembered Isabella the Catholic. She not only asked to be buried in Franciscan robes, but also established the custom to make regular donations to the Holy Land, custom maintained by the Spanish Crown until the 19th century. He also mentioned another General Consul in Jerusalem, Antonio La Cierva, Earl of Ballobar and Duke of Terranova, which prevented the Turks to destroy the St. Saviour Convent when they left Jerusalem in 1917.
To conclude, Fr. Artemio said that "this award is a way of thanking all the Spanish religious who have given their lives to the Holy Land. This was also the case of Justo Artaraz brother, who died last month, who dedicated his whole life to the Holy Land."
Jaime Gutiérrez Moreno and MAB