FRANCISZKAŃSKA MISJA NA BLISKIM WSCHODZIE W DOBIE PANDEMII
THE MISSION OF THE FRANCISCANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC

Summary/Abstract: THE ARTICLE FOCUSES ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR IN THE SO-CALLED CUSTODY OF THE HOLY LAND DURING THE EPIDEMICS OF PAST TIMES AND THE CURRENT PERIOD. DURING ITS HISTORY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IT WAS PLAGUED BY EPIDEMICS MANY TIMES. THE HOLY SEE ENTRUSTED THE CARE OF THE SHRINES IN THE HOLY LAND TO THE FRIARS MINOR. THUS, THE ACTIVITY OF THE CARE OF PILGRIMS WAS CARRIED ON THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF THE FRIARS MINOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. OVER THE CENTURIES, THE FRANCISCANS IN THE HOLY LAND HAVE PLAYED A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN JERUSALEM IN LOOKING AFTER THE SICK AND IN THE SPIRITUAL ASSIS- TANCE OF THE FAITHFUL. THE SAME CARE WAS ALSO SHOWN IN LOOKING AFTER THE LOCAL PEOPLE. BASED ON LITERARY SOURCES AND PILGRIM ITINERARIES, ONE CAN DESCRIBE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE THREAT OF EPIDEMICS. IT IS ABOVE ALL A QUESTION OF CONCRETE, BUT ALSO SPIRITUAL MEANS. THE HISTORY OF THE CARE OF THE SICK BY THE FRIARS IN JERUSALEM ON BEHALF OF PILGRIMS OF EVERY CHRISTIAN CHURCH (CATHOLIC, ORTHODOX AND PROT- ESTANT) AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE (MUSLIMS AND JEWS), AND THE FRIARS THEMSELVES, HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN THANKS TO HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. THE CHRONICLES OF THE HOLY LAND SPEAK OF MANY RESTRICTIONS DURING THE TIME OF THE PLAGUE. THE EXPERIENCE MEANT THAT THE ONLY WAYS WERE ISOLATION AND SEGREGATION. IN THE HOLY LAND, THE FRANCISCANS HAD TO SELF-IMPOSE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, AIMED AT LIMITED INFEC- TION IN TIMES OF EPIDEMICS. IT IS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED RECENTLY WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN THIS PERIOD OF THE PANDEMIC, THE CUS- TODY HAS PROVIDED MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL POPULATION WHO REMAINED ISOLATED AND WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT. THE PRACTICE USED BY THE FRANCISCANS IN THE HOLY LAND CONTINUES TODAY TO BE AN IMPORTANT MINE OF EXPERIENCE TO DRAW ON IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

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