The “Bible Festival” opened in Geneva on 3 June (until 7 June). It is promoted by the Citizens’ Evangelical Society which for the occasion has organised an exhibition on the origins and history of the most widely available holy book in the world, translated into 2,303 languages. Readings in various languages of biblical passages divided by theme (law, prophets, poetical texts, Gospels and Epistles) accompanied by musical interludes, exhibitions and tastings of “the fine food and wines of the Bible”; this, explains the organiser, pastor André Normandin, is how the days will be spent. The inauguration of the Festival was attended by representatives from Geneva’s Churches. Adelaide Mokry of the Christian Catholic Church, Claude Anken, vice president of the Council of Protestant Churches, and Anne-Marie Hidber, episcopal delegate of the Roman Catholic Church. “Reading the Bible, I realised that the criticisms levelled at the prophets and the civil authorities were even more biting that those addressed today to the people in charge of the planet. An essential lesson in humility” observed the president of the Council of State, Laurent Moutinot, who attended the inauguration ceremony of the Geneva festival and who was thus referring to the protests and acts of violence associated with the G8 meeting then taking place in Evian, France.
