Date: 1.11.2005
Source: Custody of The Holy Land

The ambassador of Portugal in Israel H.E. Pedro Nuno Bártolo and his wife Maria da Gloria Osório de Melo Bártolo with their guests wanted to see Jerusalem and its Holy Places with the Franciscans. They were interested with the situation of the Holy Places common to the three monotheistic religions and especially of the Haram ash-Sharif. This is the place where the Moslem sanctuary of al-Aqsa stands today, but also where once was the Temple Mount of the Jews (and of Jesus too). They wanted to walk along the Via Dolorosa on the steps of Jesus, carrying his cross to the place of Calvary.
On the rock of Golgota, beside the altar of the Crucifixion there is a precious memory to their country: the beautiful statue of the Mater Dolorosa, gift of Maria I of Portugal, which came from Lisbon in 1778 and represents the prophecy of Simeon that a sword of grief should pierce her soul.

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