SATURDAY VISIT ON A MAJOR EXCAVATION SITE OF THE ÉBAF

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, about forty participants, accompanied by a team from the ÉBAF, embarked on a descent towards the Dead Sea, heading to an iconic site for biblical scholars and archaeologists: Qumran.

This event, a true open-air lesson in epigraphy and archaeology, brought together a diverse group, composed of both enthusiasts and newcomers from various backgrounds. The objective was clear: to bring people together and promote exchanges around the knowledge shared by the researchers of the ÉBAF, a goal that remains at the heart of the organized visits.

One of the unanimous impressions of the participants was the impressive expertise of Fr. Émile Puech, a true expert of the site. “It’s incredible, he knows the place like the back of his hand!” says one of the visitors. But far from limiting himself to mere popularization, Fr. Émile managed to capture the attention of his audience by delving deeply into the history of the site and highlighting the fundamental heritage of the Essenes.
It wasn’t just a visit; it was an immersion in the result of meticulous excavation work carried out over several decades. The site of Qumran, marked by wars and shifting borders, continues to fascinate the biblical and scientific world.

Throughout the visit, the professor of Semitic epigraphy also paid tribute to his mentor, Fr. Roland De Vaux, OP, a pioneer of archaeology in the Holy Land. Together, they explored the caves perched on the cliffs of the Dead Sea, fragile witnesses to the copper scrolls. An extraordinary human and scientific adventure.

Originally launched by Fr. Marcel Sigrist, OP, the Saturday visits are an opportunity for friendly gatherings to discover the riches of the Holy Land, accompanied by researchers from the ÉBAF.

If you would like to participate in the Saturday visits, sign up by sending an email to lesvisitesdusamedi@gmail.com.
The next Saturday visit will take place on April 26, 2025.

You can find this proposal and many others on our website and social media.

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