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Magdala, Maria Magdalena’s native land -A project of the Tierra Santa (Holy Land) custodianship- “We should always be prepared to question ourselves about Jesus, the person. These places should help us to focus our view towards him... They help us to question ourselves about Jesus, who took his first steps here; question ourselves about the church, by which we are reminded of key moments in his life through these places.” P. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM – Custodio de Tierra Santa A project through which Magdala may become a place open to pilgrims and to find the ancient church with Maria Magdalena’s house. www.proterrasancta.org Ayudar Donaciones en línea Contacto Jerusalén, 91142 – Jaffa Gate, P.O.B 14308 IBAN: IT67 W050 1812 1010 0000 0122 691 http://www.proterrasancta.org/es/ayudar/ [email protected] tel +972 2 627 11 65 – fax + 972 2 628 64 17 Banca Etica – BIC (Swift code): CCRTIT2T84A I Magdala, Maria Magdalena’s native land Magdala appears in the New Testament following the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, and is the place where Jesus taught about the signs of the times: “Thereafter, Jesus took his leave from the crowd, boarded the boat and crossed over to the Magdala region” (Mt. 15, 39). The gospel also speaks of Mary Magdalene, also called María Magdalena, who, having been freed from the seven evils by Jesus, joined the group of women who followed him (Lc. 8, 13). She is among Jesus’ principal disciples and would be the first to bear witness to the Resurrection and become “the Evangelist to the Apostles”, according to the title bestowed upon her by the Eastern Christian Churches. Site of ancient Magdala Following the careful analysis of ancient writings, experts associate the Magdala in the New Testament with the town of Magadán, near El-Majdal (which was completely destroyed in 1948). Ancient facts and information The Semitic name “Migdal nunaya” (Tower of the fish) indicates this town's principal activity which, according to ancient historians, was the most thriving town in the "Valle de Genesaret". The city was founded in the late Hellenistic period. It is supposed to have been the scene of a hard-fought battle during the first Jewish insurrection (65 AD). However, it was assumed that it was not destroyed. The fortress of Magdala was destroyed to a large extent by an earthquake in the fourth century, but it was rebuilt soon thereafter. Based on rabbinic texts, historians surmise that a Christian community lived in Magdala from the first century on. According to the testimonials of the first pilgrims, a "splendid church" existed in Magdala from the fourth and fifth centuries, along the route from Nazareth to Cafarnaún. According to the texts, it was a church built in honor of Mary Magdalene, erected above her house and taken care of by a community of monks. Writings from the year 1294 indicate that the church was used as a stable, whilst one of the texts from the XVII century describes the site of Magdala as a place in ruins. It was possible to see the remains of an apse up until the beginning of the twentieth century. However, it has not been possible to locate its exact position. The archaeological cities: Magdala, The custodianship of the Tierra Santa acquires the site in 1912, but it was to take until 1971-77 for the Franciscan “Studium Biblicum” (Biblical Studies) governance to begin with basic archaeological excavation of the site, and thus unveil a large part of ancient Magdala. Thanks to this, today we can see the remains of ancient buildings, beautiful mosaics, a spacious square and valuable "min-synagogue" from Jesus' period. The excavations have also uncovered the convent housed by the Santuario de Magdala custodians. However, the sanctuary supposedly built above Mary Magdalene's house has yet to be found. If we consider that convents were habitually built next to sanctuaries, it is very probable that the site of the church is located to the east of the ruins of the convent, in a yet to be excavated area. The Tierra Santa custodianship has resumed archaeological works in Magdala since 2006. www.proterrasancta.org Ayudar Donaciones en línea Contacto Jerusalén, 91142 – Jaffa Gate, P.O.B 14308 IBAN: IT67 W050 1812 1010 0000 0122 691 http://www.proterrasancta.org/es/ayudar/ [email protected] tel +972 2 627 11 65 – fax + 972 2 628 64 17 Banca Etica – BIC (Swift code): CCRTIT2T84A I P. Stefano De Luca OFM, an Italian Franciscan, is responsible for research on the site. With the support of his collaborators and his own unremitting passion, P. Stefano is endeavouring to uncover the mystery of Magdala and to organize the ongoing discoveries in an orderly manner. The Tierra Santa custodianship has put “Proyecto Magdala” (Project Magdala) into operation, in order to be able to continue with these works of primary importance. View of the Magdala archaeological site. “Proyecto Magdala” (Magdala Project) The objective of the project is to reclaim the pre-eminence of the site as a community in which Jesus lived and as native land of Mary Magdalene in order to open it up to pilgrimage. To this end, it is necessary to continue to undertake archaeological studies. Specifically, financing of “Proyecto Magdala” includes: • Maintenance work on the archaeological site, whose restoration and consolidation are urgent. • The continuation of excavations in order to recoup the ancient church built above Mary Magdalene's house. According to experts, this church must be very close to the already uncovered convent. • The construction of a structure with a capacity to welcome pilgrims and all who visit the site. To begin with, exhibition panels must be created to describe archaeological findings and other information in detail regarding life in Jesus’ era and to present the spiritual message coming from Mary Magdalene and from her native land. Part of a mosaic among the ruins at Magdala's bizantian convent. Objective “Proyecto Magdala” wishes to reclaim Magdala’s value as the birthplace of one of the first followings of Jesus and first eyewitness to the resurrection. By supporting “Proyecto Magdala” economically you contribute towards Mary Magdalene’s mother land with its spiritual message becoming the place of pilgrimage. Tierra Santa isn't just any ordinary place, it is the land which gave birth to our faith, the land of our roots.” P. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM – Custodio de Tierra Santa Help us to contribute towards maintaining Christian life in the Holy Land! Custodia ATS - Proyecto “Magdala” IBAN: ES63 0075 0615 5806 0021 1001 Banco Popular - BIC (Swift Code): POPUESMM Online donations: www.proterrasancta.org, Menu “Azudarnos” For a deeper understanding of “Proyecto Magdala”: www.magdalaproject.org www.proterrasancta.org You can write to us to the following address for more information and we will put you in touch with P. Stefano De Luca OFM, responsible for “Proyecto Magdala”: [email protected] The Tierra Santa Custodianship The Franciscan Order, founded by San Francisco in 1209, begins its evangelizing mission right from the outset. The Tierra Santa Province is established at the time of the General Chapter (monastic general assembly). The Franciscans continue to carry out their missionary and prophetic works after more than seven centuries in the name of reconciliation and peace. The Custodianship currently operates in the following countries: Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and in the islands of Cyprus and Rhodes. There are close to 300 monks carrying out their ministry in these places together with the collaboration of a hundred or so nuns and various congregations. The Franciscans watch over and invigorate 49 Christian places of preferential status, among them being the Basilicas of Santo Sepulcro in Jerusalem, of the Nativity in Bethlehem and of the annunciation in Nazareth. Apart from pastoral duties, the Custodianship carries out many social works: schools, institutes, extracurricular activities, summer camps, scholarship for pupils and university students, construction and renovation of dwellings, retirement centers for the aged, parish activities, work-shops for women, medical assistance, hospitalization aid... for Christians, but without leaving out Muslims and Jews. The Custodianship encourages scientific-cultural activities in the field of archaeology, especially with regard to excavations making reference to the Holy Scriptures, and has particularly done so in the last hundred years. “Dialogue and a coming together are perhaps more difficult today than at other times, but also more fruitful. DIALOGAR means ‘to commit oneself’... without attracting attention or making noise, simply sharing daily life and service to others, in hospitals, in schools, in economic activities”. “...I think that today it is fundamental to preserve the freedom to love everyone, above all in the Holy Land” (P. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM – Custodio de Tierra Santa) The Tierra Santa (Holy Land) Association ATS is the Franciscan Custodianship’s Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) whose objectives are non-profit oriented. The President is the Custodian of the Tierra Santa. ATS promotes and coordinates cooperation in development activities and in international solidarity, which are carried out primarily in all the areas in which the Tierra Santa Custodianship is involved. ATS’s mission is to serve Tierra Santa Custodianship in its capacity to conserve and appraise principal Christian “Places”, to favour Christian presence in the Middle East, and to promote peace and dialogue. The activities of the Franciscans span over diverse sectors of a social, educational, scientific, and cultural character, and provide assistance to the Christian communities and to the poorest tiers in the population. We are supported by the trust afforded to us by so many benefactors with their contributions, their generosity, the charity of the universal Christian community and of some occasional donors.

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