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Italians Restore 900-Year-Old Mosaics at Bethlehem Church
The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 7/8/16 | Judith Sudilovsky

Posted on 07/10/2016 5:35:04 AM PDT by marshmallow

Restorers, after clearing away centuries of dirt, discovered the Church of the Nativity had a seventh mosaic

An Italian team has completed restoration of Crusader-era mosaics in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The mosaics will only be unveiled publicly after work on lighting, electricity and a fire alarm system.

The work involved removing the layers of centuries-worth of soot and dirt – a result of the smoke of candles lit by pilgrims coming to venerate the site traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus – from about 1.55 million tiny mosaic pieces that were reviewed and restored.

“I think all the churches want to save this church because here Jesus was born,” said Giammarco Piacenti, CEO of Piacenti Restoration Centre, which began work on the church starting with the rotting wooden roof in April 2013. “It is important for all Christianity. For my professional life, this occasion is incredible.”

Only 1,400 square feet of mosaics remain from the original 21,528 square feet that adorned the wall, he noted. The others were destroyed by rain leaking through the roof, he said.

Made of stone, mother of pearl, and glass and gold leaf, the mosaics portray different scenes in the life of Jesus and the church, including the disbelief of Thomas, the Assumption and Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Piacenti said the mosaic of the disbelief of Thomas shows the date of 1155 and the names Ephraim and Basilius, presumably artisans who created the work. Some pieces of the mosaics remain missing and will not be replaced, he said, based on the theory of restoration that there should be a minimum of intervention on any piece. “Really, it is only conservation,” he said.

One special moment came when restorers cleared away plaster from the wall bordering.....

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; History; Orthodox Christian
KEYWORDS: bethlehem; church; churchofthenativity; godsgravesglyphs; israel; mosaic; mosaics

1 posted on 07/10/2016 5:35:04 AM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

The islamites will probably destroy it next week.


2 posted on 07/10/2016 5:37:28 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (The reason for Gun Control has always been Government's Fear of Rebellion.)
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To: marshmallow

Do muslims find it offensive?


3 posted on 07/10/2016 5:38:22 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: marshmallow

Very pretty.


4 posted on 07/10/2016 5:48:51 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down." ~Johnny Cash)
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To: marshmallow

“Both Islam and Judaism prohibit graven human images.” But only Islam tells its followers to destroy them.


5 posted on 07/10/2016 5:54:03 AM PDT by Mercat (Boredom is a problem on the inside. And happiness, too, is an inside job.)
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To: 2banana

The painting of that guy in the middle looks so modern and lifelike :)

Still have some relatives over there. They say the danger is palpable.

Italy will Explode if the Vatican is attacked.


6 posted on 07/10/2016 5:56:05 AM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: BuffaloJack

Not going to happen. They need the pilgrims and the money.


7 posted on 07/10/2016 6:02:11 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: SunkenCiv

PING


8 posted on 07/10/2016 6:03:41 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Mercat

The Christian faith as well because the Holy Bible has both the OT and the NT.


9 posted on 07/10/2016 6:04:02 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: marshmallow

They are beautiful.

God bless these devoted artisans as they help restore that ancient church.

When I visited in 1984, these mosaics were not visible. They are a treasure!


10 posted on 07/10/2016 8:07:27 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: dp0622

Good thing they didn't get that Spanish lady to restore it like she did this mural.

11 posted on 07/10/2016 8:12:39 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Tennessee Nana; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...

Thanks Tennessee Nana.
An Italian team has completed restoration of Crusader-era mosaics in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

12 posted on 07/10/2016 8:38:17 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
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To: marshmallow

bump


13 posted on 07/10/2016 12:48:39 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (We will no longer surrender this country to the false song of globalism. --Donald Trump)
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Church of the Nativity’s Face-Lift Reveals Ancient Treasures
The National Catholic Register | Michele Chabin
Posted on 06/17/2016 8:30:08 AM PDT by marshmallow
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3441186/posts


14 posted on 07/10/2016 8:58:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
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To: SunkenCiv

They’re beautiful!


15 posted on 07/11/2016 1:49:28 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Mercat; Eleutheria5; Jonty30
“Both Islam and Judaism prohibit graven human images.” But only Islam tells its followers to destroy them.

well actually I think Judaism also tells its followers to destroy them. Nearly all nowadays take that as telling you to destroy images if your people start worshipping them

Eleutheria, jonty -- what does modern day orthodox Judaism say about this?

16 posted on 12/09/2016 2:01:33 AM PST by Cronos (Obama's dislike of Assad is not based on his brutality but that he isn't a jihadi Moslem)
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To: Cronos

If I have any graven images that are worshiped in my possession, I would destroy them. But I’m not vandalizing any churches.


17 posted on 12/09/2016 5:23:21 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (“If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.)
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