A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is always incredible. However, if you also have a guide capable of combining historical, spiritual, and archaeological knowledge, the experience is simply unbeatable.
The Saxum Foundation, a few miles from Jerusalem, has begun to offer specialized courses on holy sites for city tour guides. Participants include people from various religions, such as Hughie Auman, an experienced Israeli guide.
HUGHIE AUMAN
Tour Guide
“You have to connect the points. You have to know how to connect history, archaeology, biblical geography, events and the beliefs of people so it all comes together and a person can get an understanding of where they are and what they visited. Definitely, that is the job of the tour guide. Otherwise, a tourist can just take an electronic guide or recorder.”
In the Holy Land, there are areas that have changed a lot since the time of Christ. For example, Jerusalem was completely destroyed during the time of Emperor Titus. This makes it difficult to precisely pinpoint some sites.
HUGHIE AUMAN
Tour Guide
“What makes a Holy Site? Many, many times a Holy Site is the fact that people have venerated the site for generations and generations. They have cried and prayed at those sites, for countless years, countless generations.”
In this first half of the year, courses will focus on the restoration of the Calvary chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The class also covers the opening and signaling of the Emmaus Way.
This current session, which focuses on the archaeological remains of Emmaus-Nicópolis, is officially accredited by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. They offers the course as part of ongoing training for tour guides.
