VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2005 (VIS) - This year too, the Holy See will participate in the "European Heritage Days," an annual initiative promoted by the Council of Europe in which more than 40 countries are involved.
This year European Heritage Day will be celebrated on September 25 and is dedicated to the theme: "Memory and Identity. The 'traditio ecclesiae' in intercultural dialogue."
The Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, the Vatican Museums, and the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology have all collaborated in preparing the program for the Day.
During European Heritage Day, entrance to the Vatican Museums and to the catacombs of Rome will be free. At the same time the Pio Christian Museum, which forms part of the Vatican Museums, will house an exhibition entitled: "The 'dogmatic' Sarcophagus, or the Sarcophagus 'of the two Testaments.' The burgeoning faith of the Church transmitted in images."
On the same day an exhibition will be inaugurated in Rome's Catacombs of St. Calixtus. It is entitled, "The 'traditio ecclesiae' in intercultural dialogue: reflections on the art of the catacombs," and will remain open until October 31.
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