Posted on 08/23/2008 8:40:26 PM PDT by forkinsocket
An ancient monastery adjacent to where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus ate the Last Supper, has turned into a legal battleground for Catholics and Jews.
Last week the High Court of Justice issued a temporary restraining order halting construction work by a Jewish organization in a Franciscan monastery on Jerusalem's Mount Zion adjacent to the Cenaculum, the Latin term for the room where the Last Supper was held.
The court also issued an order preventing the Jewish organization - the Institute for the Study of the Family and Family Laws in Israel - from moving people in to live in the monastery, known as the Franciscan house, just outside the Dormition Church.
David Bartholdy, spokesman for Tancredi, a Catholic organization that petitioned the High Court, said the construction infringed on Christians' freedom of worship.
"This is a holy place for Christians of all denominations," Bartholdy said in a telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. "Work being done there is causing serious damage to a monastery with important historical and religious value. Construction workers have already uprooted ancient floor tiling, scraped off a layer of plaster from the walls, broken down antique, chiseled doors, and all this under the supervision of the Antiquities Authority.
"The construction work going on at the site raises the suspicion that someone is trying to Judaize a Catholic site and prevent freedom of religious expression."
The Institute for the Study of the Family and Family Laws in Israel was established by former religious affairs minister Avner Shaki. Shaki died in 2005.
In response to Tancredi's petition, attorney Ya'acov Weinroth, who is representing the institute, wrote that Bartholdy had issued an erroneous affidavit claiming that the institute planned to move residents into the building.
"The assets belong to the institute since the 1970s and the offices and its workers have operated from there. Proper upkeep of the building necessitates refurbishing from time to time and the institute received the permission of the Antiquities Authority to do so," Weinroth wrote.
In the 15th century the Catholic Church lost control of the buildings on Mount Zion.
The upper room of the same building is known as the Room of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. On the first floor is "David's Tomb."
In chapter two of the Acts of Apostles, Peter describes the place, mentioning that it is near David's Tomb.
During his visit to Israel in 2000, Pope John Paul II held Mass in the Cenaculum.
Considering that we have no clue were the last supper was held … pick a spot, any spot … build a religious shrine and move on. Sheese!
That's pretty much it. After all, we walk by faith, not by site.... :)
Amen!
****... the Cenaculum, the Latin term for the room where the Last Supper was held.****
I believe the 10th Roman Legion took care of that two thousand years ago when they completely destroyed Jerusalem.
“...not by site”. Good one!!
I seem to recall Jesus saying His kingdom was not of this world.
NOW you're talkin'!
Jews and Christians will get along once Obama becomes President.
"That's pretty much it. After all, we walk by faith, not by site.... :)"Unfortunately, for many, site is a prerequisite to faith.
Don’t forget the gift shop!
I suspect there is some valid reasons and evidence that it is the correct site. Regardless, if the church says it is the site of the last supper, then the jews should not violate that space anymore than we would violate one of their shrines.
I wasn't aware that site had mattered to Thomas. It did to the woman at the well, though. That's when Jesus told her that it really didn't matter at all. :)
Exactly.
Well then let them destroy your church. Your comments are out of line.
There isn't a sight I went to that somebody didn't say “they think it was”, but.......
No, my comments are not out of line. Jesus also said that He would build his church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. I don’t think He was talking about a building or any other earthly place. “My church” is not a building.
I called a square dance last evening in a building that once was used for worship and it obviously was built for that originally. It has been used as a community center for the past 60+ years. Nobody was protesting.
Jesus didn’t eat his last supper with his Apostles at your converted dance hall. According to you we should not have churches, museums, national monuments. If you can twist the Bible’s words to fit your anti-Catholic bias you need to look at yourself. Am sure it would not bother you to have the Mount of Olives and Calvary bulldozed to build condos. You are shortsighted and void of values.
Jesus didn’t eat his last supper with his Apostles at your converted dance hall. According to you we should not have churches, museums, national monuments. If you can twist the Bible’s words to fit your anti-Catholic bias you need to look at yourself. Am sure it would not bother you to have the Mount of Olives and Calvary bulldozed to build condos. You are shortsighted and void of values.
I am a Catholic and obviously a Christian but, if my faith starts exhibiting the worst qualities of islam, I am totally prepared to embrace agnosticism...
You should have become an agnostic long ago then because either the Jews or Moslems have been trying to take over the sacred sites for centuries. Have a wonderful life without God in you life???
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