For about 800 years, the Custody of the Holy Land has been present on Mount Tabor, the holy site of the Transfiguration. The mission of the Franciscans goes far beyond the simple custody of historical ruins. As the guardian of the monastery, Fr. Carlos Molina, recalls, these stones where Lord Jesus passed have always invited us to accompany and support the "living stones", that is, the local community and people.

The Franciscan presence has been structured over time until finding its highest expression in 1924, when, following deep archaeological excavations, the basilica designed by the architect Antonio Barluzzi was erected. In addition to guarding the sanctuary, the property houses a community of friars and the aspirancy house, the place where young people take their first steps in vocational discernment.

Making the memory of the site even more alive is a new campaign of archaeological excavations led by Fr. Gianantonio Urbani of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. Working on the insights left by Barluzzi himself, the researchers are investigating a system of caves located behind the basilica. These cavities reveal a precise division of spaces, organized both for the daily needs of the monks who lived there and for their life of prayer and liturgy.

These rooms not only tell the story of the organization of monastic life, but reconstruct the broader history of Christian devotion. As Fr. Diego Dalla Gassa emphasizes, even the details that require protection or that have remained hidden from view for centuries tell of a profound communion, and every single artifact brought to light contributes to safeguarding the intertwining of history, archaeology, and faith.