The Pope Receives Madonna Lily Seeds from BGU
The Pope Receives Madonna Lily Seeds from BGU
April 2, 2014
The Jerusalem Post — Pope Francis, who arrives in Israel at the end of May, has just received a special gift – seeds of the white Madonna lily of the type that existed during the time of Jesus two millennia ago. The seeds were developed in the lab of BGU’s Dr. Michelle Zakai with the help of researcher Asael Ram.
According to Christian tradition, the lily was connected to the annunciation during which the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. The flower appears in many Italian Renaissance paintings of Christian themes that were painted by the great artists of the day.
Because Madonna lilies naturally bloom in Israel at other times of the year, they are cultivated under special hothouse conditions to make the flowers bloom specifically in April, when Christians mark the annunciation. The event is commemorated this year on April 3 by Catholics around the world.
“The fact that the lily has now bloomed and that its origin is in the Holy Land gives it special significance for Christians,” says Dr. Zakai.
Read more on The Jerusalem Post website >>
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