I had the great privilege of meeting the Secretary and Rector for the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, a group of Catholic scholars from Rome’s Pontifica Universitas Antonianum working in Jerusalem. Their school is on the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows which tradition holds Christ took on his way to crucifixion. Located between the Church of the Flagellation and the Church of the Condemnation (see photo), the SBF has a wonderful museum and an extraordinary library of over 50,000 volumes in multiple languages in the area of Biblical studies. Today my book, The Upper Room and Tomb of David: The History, Art and Archaeology of the Cenacle on Mount Zion became one of them.

It was my pleasure and privilege to hand carry the book and present it in person per the request of the SBF in recognition for the copyright privilege extended to me to use certain illustrations of SBF publications in my own work. The SBF greeted me warmly and took me on an extensive tour of their facilities.

The book also generated buzz at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem where I attended a lecture on the history of the Islamic structures on the Temple Mount. Many renowned archaeologists and historians were in attendance and a great time was had by all.