WEST BANK-MOSAIC MAP Jericho monastery attempts Guinness World Record with mosaic map

Record ID: 565672

  • Title: WEST BANK-MOSAIC MAP Jericho monastery attempts Guinness World Record with mosaic map
  • Date: 11th November 2014
  • Summary: JERICHO, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOSAIC MAP OF PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES CLOSE ON MOSAIC MAP WITH GREEK WRITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ENGINEER, JOHNNY ZOABI, SAYING: "This project is to create a mosaic map based on one found at the Madaba church in Amman (Jordan). We tried to replicate it here on a larger scale. As far as we understand, this is the largest mosaic map created up to this day. With God's will, we are aiming to achieve a Guinness World Record with this map." MORE OF MOSAIC MAP ON WALL DETAIL OF MAP SEEN THROUGH TREE BRANCHES WIDE OF MOSAIC MAP VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF SAINT GERASIMOS GREEK ORTHODOX MONASTERY, ALSO KNOWN AS DEIR HAJLA MORE OF MOSAIC MAP VARIOUS OF MOSAIC MAP WITH PLACARD IN FRONT EXPLAINING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AT SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ENGINEER, JOHNNY ZOABI, SAYING: "The building is a monument for Alexander the Great. It was supervised by Father Christo and engineers from Greece and the Palestinian Territories. The workers were Palestinian and also Greek workers helped in the project." VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE TO SAINT GERASIMOS GREEK ORTHODOX MONASTERY VARIOUS OF MONASTERY BELL VARIOUS OF ARTISTS WORKING ON MOSAIC INSIDE MONASTERY TO COMPLETE LARGE MOSAIC, WHICH IS STILL IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF HEAD OF JERICHO'S MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ANTIQUES, EYAD HAMDAN, TALKING TO MAN IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF JERICHO'S MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ANTIQUES, EYAD HAMDAN, SAYING: "The Ministry of Tourism supports any projects that highlight Palestinian identity and highlight Palestinian culture while affirming Palestinian identity. The 'Madaba' map is important and it's one of the oldest maps referring to Palestine. Mosaic work is an important craft, which is why the Ministry of Tourism supports this craft and creating a map using it or any other work using mosaic." ROAD SIGN ON WAY TO MONASTERY WRITTEN IN ARABIC, ENGLISH AND HEBREW, READING: "SAINT GERASIMOS" VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF SAINT GERASIMOS MONASTERY
  • Embargoed: 26th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4QD4CK4POAXSEF6GNW2FZN4UQ
  • Story Text: Tucked away in a desert region of the West Bank is Deir Hajla or Saint Gerasimos - a Greek Orthodox monastery which has long been a favourite stop for travellers and pilgrims for centuries.
    Ancient sites abound in this area and now the golden domes in the 75 acre green oasis near Jericho will host a new attraction - what is hoped to be the largest mosaic map in the world.
    In a bid to establish a new Guinness World Record, the monastery is recreating on a larger scale, the 'Madaba' map.
    Engineer Johnny Zoabi said the project is based on an ancient map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land dated to 570 AD and found in Jordan's Madaba church.
    "This project is to create a mosaic map based on one found at the Madaba church in Amman (Jordan). We tried to replicate it here on a larger scale. As far as we understand, this is the largest mosaic map created up to this day. With God's will, we are aiming to achieve a Guinness World Record with this map," Zoabi told Reuters.
    Jordan's tourism ministry says the original map, discovered in 1884, shows Jerusalem as viewed from the air, and surrounded by a wall.
    The new mosaic version of the map has been created by Greek and Palestinian engineers and workers and, when complete, will cover a wall that forms part of a monument to Alexander the Great, Zoabi said. It will cover a 90 square-metre area.
    The monastery was built in the 5th century to commemorate Gerasimos, a rich man who came to Palestine leaving behind his wealth to establish the Christian sanctuary in the Jordan Valley. There he led a life of asceticism and prayer.
    Historians also link Mary, the mother of Christ, Joseph and the infant Jesus to the monastery, saying they found refuge in a cave there during their flight from Herod. Inside, colourful mosaics and frescoes adorn its ancient walls.
    The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiques says they encourage the celebration of 'Palestinian culture and identity' through projects such as the new mosaic map.
    "The Ministry of Tourism supports any projects that highlight Palestinian identity and highlight Palestinian culture while affirming Palestinian identity. The 'Madaba' map is important and it's one of the oldest maps referring to Palestine. Mosaic work is an important craft, which is why the Ministry of Tourism supports this craft and creating a map using it or any other work using mosaic," head of the ministry in Jericho, Eyad Hamdan said.
    Zoabi said the team of 50 people, 35 of whom are Palestinians from the Jericho area, are also working to build the Alexander the Great Amphitheatre around the new mosaic map. The project is estimated to cost two million euros, and will be opened for tourism by the end of December.
    Families from all over the West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel are welcome, for a small fee, to barbecue and enjoy the monastery garden on the weekend. Candles are also made at the monastery and used at Greek Orthodox chapels throughout the country. Tourists can also stay at the guest house run by the monks and visit ancient graves containing the skulls and bones of the monks who have lived at the monastery through the ages.
    Saint Gerasimos lies some five kilometres away from the Jordan river where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was baptised.
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