Domus Galilaeae The House of the Galilee, Israel with Zahi Shaked

Zahi Shaked A tour guide in Israel and his camera [email protected] +972- 54-6905522 tel סיור עם מורה הדרך ומדריך הטיולים צחי שקד 0546905522 One of the greatest desires of Pope Paul VI was to build in Israel a center where Seminarians could complete their formation before being ordained. It was with this frame of mind that the Vatican purchased Notre Dame, near the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. At the beginning of the 80's, the Custodian in the Holy Land offered the Neo-Catechumenal Way (see page on The Neo-Catechumenal Way) the possibility to build a center of formation, for studies and retreat, on a piece of land situated on the Mount of Beatitudes. This work is of particular interest to the Church and for Israel.Pope Woytila, when he was first informed about the project "Domus Galilaeae" in 1994, showed his enthusiasm. He blessed it and supported it, seeing in it a service for all peoples and "for the whole Church". In the following years all the permits were obtained for the construction which began in January 1999, with the laying of the first stone, which contained a fragment of the tomb of St. Peter, blessed by the Holy Father.The project is situated above the Sanctuary of Beatitudes, towards the top of the mountain known as the Beatitudes. It is directly in front of Lake Tiberias, above Tabgha, the place of the first multiplication of the bread, and Capernaum. One and a half kilometers away, the ancient ruins of Korazim can be found. These ruins were brought to light in recent years. The project rises near the road that in ancient days united Korazim and Capernaum, on the shores of the lake.