Saxum Visitor Center hosted a special training program for Israeli tour guides, organized in collaboration with the Israel Tour Guide Association (ITGA).
More than 50 participants gathered at Saxum to deepen their understanding of Christianity and further enrich their preparation as guides accompanying pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.
Apparitions of Our Blessed Mother Mary Around the World
Training to Better Accompany Christian Pilgrims
Tour guides play a key role in the experience of those who travel to the Holy Land on pilgrimage. Beyond leading visitors through historic sites, they help them understand the biblical and spiritual context that makes this land so meaningful to millions of people around the world.
With this in mind, the training program offered a full day of sessions focused on helping guides accompany Christian pilgrims with greater knowledge and insight.
Saxum had the honor of welcoming Yisca Harani, a leading expert on Christianity and a lecturer associated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Throughout the day, participants explored important figures and passages from the Gospel, including “John, the Beloved Disciple and Thomas the Doubter” and “Our Lady Mary.” These sessions provided an opportunity to reflect on key human and spiritual themes found in the Gospel—faith, doubt, trust, and personal vocation—universal experiences that continue to resonate today.
Saxum and the Importance of Interreligious Dialogue in the Holy Land
At Saxum, learning goes hand in hand with encounter. Promoting a deeper understanding of Christianity in the Holy Land is also a way of fostering dialogue among people of different cultures and faith traditions through mutual respect and listening.
In a land marked by extraordinary historical and spiritual richness, interreligious dialogue has particular significance. Understanding another tradition more deeply helps us appreciate it and creates opportunities for genuine encounter.
That is why Saxum organizes initiatives like this one: to offer rigorous educational experiences while also building bridges among people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs.
Presentation on the Gospel of Saint John
A Journey Through the Bible at Saxum Visitor Center
The day concluded with a guided visit to the Saxum Visitor Center Multimedia Tour. Participants explored the history of the Bible—from the Old Testament to the New Testament—through Saxum’s timeline, large-format maps, and interactive displays.
This experience helps visitors place biblical events in their geographical context and gain a deeper understanding of the events that unfolded in the Holy Land, enriching the work of those who accompany pilgrimages and educational visits.
Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant, Kiryat Yearim
A Day to Learn, Share, and Build Friendships
The gathering was marked by learning, the exchange of experiences, and personal encounters. Beyond academic formation, it was also an opportunity to share perspectives, get to know one another better, and continue building friendships.
At Saxum, we welcome people of all cultures and beliefs, offering every visitor an opportunity to discover the Holy Land in greater depth and connect with this unique place.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this special day.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Saxum soon!
By Blanca Ramirez, Director of Saxum Visitor Center