About four miles south of Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes in Galilee, archaeologists discovered the remains of a city from the times of Christ. ;
That site could very well be remnants of the city of Magdala, believed to be the town of Mary Magdalene. ;
The Legionaries of Christ have opened an archeological park, a spiritual center and a parish directly on the site. The church has five chapels and one of them is for ecumenical celebrations. The opening ceremony included a group of local Jewish representatives. ;
Back in 2009, Benedict XVI blessed the structure's first stone during his trip to the Holy Land. Just recently, Pope Francis' visit, he blessed the Sanctuary of the church. ;
The goal is to help pilgrims who visit the Holy Land, to understand the Gospel, through the sites where Jesus preached. That includes understanding the role women play in the Church and more specifically in evangelization. ;
Pilgrims who visit the city will also have the chance to see the best preserved synagogue from the time of Christ. ;
The first phase of the construction has now been completed but there' still more work to be done. A hotel for about 300 visitors and a restaurant are still in the works. ;
JRB/KLH ;
Legionarios de Cristo
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