The ribbon-cutting ceremony in the presence of the city and religious authorities of Cremona inaugurated the Bible Expo, Saturday, 11 November, on the premises of the Adventist Church of Cremona.
The occasion was attended by Monsignor Antonio Napolioni, bishop of the Cremona diocese; Prof. Franca Zucchetti, president of the municipality's Culture Commission and delegate representing the municipal administration; Andrea Rosa, president of the Council of Waldensian and Methodist Churches of Cremona and Piacenza; Don Federico Celini, delegate for interreligious dialogue of the diocese; Don Stefano, Don Felice, Don Ettore, local parish priests; and some journalists from the daily newspaper La Provincia.
It was a witness-worthy experience that involved the entire local community and the Adventist communities in the area. Bible Expo was open to visitors every day, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., until Sunday, 19 November. "At the end of this wonderful journey of faith and community witnessing, we thanked the Lord for the wonderful experiences we had with the visitors who came," commented Pastor Franco Evangelisti.
Numbers and comments
A total of 171 people attended, broken down as follows: 9 authorities, 70 external visitors, 50 members of the Cremona Adventist Church, and 42 members of the neighbouring Adventist communities (Parma, Mantova, Sesto San Giovanni). The contribution of the 12 volunteers who collaborated in the weekly course was important.
"We lived this experience in an intense way, made visible throughout the city by the local media," continued Pastor Evangelisti.
Dr. Rinaldo Lampugnani, endocrinologist and director of a polyclinic, left this dedication: "Knowledge of history brings believers and non-believers closer together, and unites religions in generating the right thinking of a better world."
Stefano Seghezzi, professor of Italian, history and geography, accompanied the eighth-grade students from the 'Sacra Famiglia' public school to visit the exhibition, and left this testimony: “Thank you for the passion with which you recount what has affected your lives so much, and for the kindness with which you have welcomed us.”
In the first months of the new year, the Bible Expo experience will be lived in the other two Adventist churches in the district, Parma and Mantua.
The exhibition
The Bible Expo is a travelling exhibition organised by the Italian Union of Seventh-day Adventist Churches, in collaboration with the Bible Society in Italy. It offers an engaging and fascinating cultural and educational itinerary. It displays precious specimen of great historical value, of the Holy Scriptures, and modern versions in more than 50 different languages. In addition, visitors can browse among the scale models of the tabernacle of Moses, Solomon's temple, and Noah's ark; see the ark of the covenant and the high priest dressed in the characteristic breastplate; stand in front of the life-size statue of Daniel 2; read the scrolls of the law; leaf through the different versions of Scripture in various languages; and much more. It is a true immersion into the stories of Scripture.
The Bible Expo was inaugurated in 2017, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther. It was the European reformer who translated the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek texts into German, the current language in the country at the time. His work is considered fundamental in the development of the modern German language. Furthermore, the Bible was the first entire book printed by Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable type technique.
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