The mosaic restoration work at the Church of Dominus Flevit in Jerusalem has begun. Young local mosaic workers are collaborating on the project.
RAED SUFAN
Restorer – Mosaic Center “It is not a question of religion, but the passion for the work we are doing at the moment. You can experience a lot of things. Sitting on the ground and touching the mosaics, you can feel something ancient.”
ISRAA ABU DIAB
Restorer – Mosaic Center “An instructor from Italy named Paola came. She gave two lectures on work techniques.”
PAULINE ABDALLAH
Mosaic worker – Mosaic Center “I feel excited and a bit worried, because the technical terms used are difficult to understand; it is also because restoring our heritage is a big responsibility. So, I'm always very careful not damage anything. It is challenging but also very beautiful.”
Six students in training, a place that attracts people from all over the world, a sanctuary in the middle of the history of Christendom: The new restoration project for the Dominus Flevit sanctuary on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem began in this context. The Pro Terra Sancta Association, the Custody of the Holy Land’s NGO, is carrying out the work, along with the Mosaic Center of Jericho, the training institute specializing in mosaics that was begun by Franciscan archaeologist Fr. Michele Piccirillo.
CARLA BENELLI
Pro Terra Sancta Association
“We have a minimum and a maximum program: the minimum program, one that we will surely carry out, includes the restoration of both the modern mosaics and those above the floor especially: the floor is interesting because it is made up of the remains of a Byzantine monastery. But then, the project should not end there. The small church has somehow erased the memory of the existing monastery. So then, the operation will be to bring out the monastery that was there before: a memory of the many important monasteries that during the Byzantine period were built and flourished on the Mount of Olives.”
RAED KALIL
Trainer Mosaic Center
“The goal of the project is the restoration of the mosaic, and also the training of six students in the production and restoration of the mosaic. Thanks to the great results of the project in Gethsemane, now a new project— organized in collaboration with the Italian Consulate and the city of Bronzolo, for the restoration of the mosaic at Dominus Flevit—has also been approved.”
The work, which is expected to last about a year, began in the wake of the restoration of the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane, is intended to recover the mosaics found at the Franciscan basilicas on the Mount of Olives. Like in the first experience, next to the restoration work, the training will leave a professional footprint in this land.
PAULINE ABDALLAH Mosaic Center Jericho
“For me, this is an introduction to restoration. In the past, I have always worked in Jericho producing new mosaics. This year, we came here as restoration apprentices.”
CARLA BENELLI
Pro Terra Sancta Association "It 's very interesting for our youngsters to be able to learn through the restoration of these ancient mosaics.”
RAED SUFAN
Restorer – Mosaic Center “It is not a question of religion, but the passion for the work we are doing at the moment. You can experience a lot of things. Sitting on the ground and touching the mosaics, you can feel something ancient.”
ISRAA ABU DIAB
Restorer – Mosaic Center “An instructor from Italy named Paola came. She gave two lectures on work techniques.”
PAULINE ABDALLAH
Mosaic worker – Mosaic Center “I feel excited and a bit worried, because the technical terms used are difficult to understand; it is also because restoring our heritage is a big responsibility. So, I'm always very careful not damage anything. It is challenging but also very beautiful.”
Six students in training, a place that attracts people from all over the world, a sanctuary in the middle of the history of Christendom: The new restoration project for the Dominus Flevit sanctuary on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem began in this context. The Pro Terra Sancta Association, the Custody of the Holy Land’s NGO, is carrying out the work, along with the Mosaic Center of Jericho, the training institute specializing in mosaics that was begun by Franciscan archaeologist Fr. Michele Piccirillo.
CARLA BENELLI
Pro Terra Sancta Association
“We have a minimum and a maximum program: the minimum program, one that we will surely carry out, includes the restoration of both the modern mosaics and those above the floor especially: the floor is interesting because it is made up of the remains of a Byzantine monastery. But then, the project should not end there. The small church has somehow erased the memory of the existing monastery. So then, the operation will be to bring out the monastery that was there before: a memory of the many important monasteries that during the Byzantine period were built and flourished on the Mount of Olives.”
RAED KALIL
Trainer Mosaic Center
“The goal of the project is the restoration of the mosaic, and also the training of six students in the production and restoration of the mosaic. Thanks to the great results of the project in Gethsemane, now a new project— organized in collaboration with the Italian Consulate and the city of Bronzolo, for the restoration of the mosaic at Dominus Flevit—has also been approved.”
The work, which is expected to last about a year, began in the wake of the restoration of the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane, is intended to recover the mosaics found at the Franciscan basilicas on the Mount of Olives. Like in the first experience, next to the restoration work, the training will leave a professional footprint in this land.
PAULINE ABDALLAH Mosaic Center Jericho
“For me, this is an introduction to restoration. In the past, I have always worked in Jericho producing new mosaics. This year, we came here as restoration apprentices.”
CARLA BENELLI
Pro Terra Sancta Association "It 's very interesting for our youngsters to be able to learn through the restoration of these ancient mosaics.”