![]() More recent history now tells us about some difficulties due to the presence of the wall built between Israel and the territories of the West Bank, making it harder to reach Bethany for pilgrims. Recent excavations have brought to light new rooms and are trying to give shape to centuries and centuries of history, whose traces have yet to be unearthed. ![]() The construction of the Franciscan monastery and the first archaeological excavations that were then abandoned also took place during those same years. The reconstruction of the modern church dates back to 1952-53 and Barluzzi was the architect for the project. The Franciscans were only able to enter the sanctuary in 1613, when they obtained a construction permit for an outdoor gallery, until they bought a parcel of the land in 1889. Among them, was a building in the upper part, which looks like only one room today, but it was used as a tower and as a passage to get to the courtyard of the monastery. ![]() The church was turned into a mosque, although some remnants of the monastery still remain today. Then came the abandonment period with the advent of Saladin in 1187. The first abbess was Queen Melisende’s sister, Ivette. Fulk of Anjou and Queen Melisende then decided to donate the site to a community of Benedictine nuns, who established their monastery. The first dates back to the time of Constantine, to the the third and fourth centuries, the second would have been erected under Justinian between the fifth and sixth centuries, until the arrival of the Crusaders who partially restored and modified it. Ibrahim Abu A'mar of Al-Quds University, who works as an archaeologist at the dig, said that there likely were many churches built there. As a holy place, there is the presence of a small fraternity of Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land and a 20th century church, along with some very ancient ruins.ĭuring the recent archaeological excavations allowed through the “Betania” project, carried out by the ATS Pro Terra Sancta Association with the support of the Custos, thorough reserach was carried out to try to piece together the history of this place. All of the surrounding environment, however, has changed a great deal over the years. Today the tomb is still there: a cave carved into the rock with a mortuary that is reached by descending the steps. The Gospel tells us that Jesus had resurrected Lazarus after he had been dead for four days, calling him to come out from the tomb where he had been placed. We are on the road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho, on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives, just five kilometers from Jerusalem. A place connected to the story of Jesus, a place of resurrection, Bethany, now called El-Azariyeh, is the village located in the current West Bank where the house of the Jesus’ friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, is located.
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