Amazing Discovery of Ancient Church in Holy Land
5 Nov 2005
JERUSALEM - Israeli archaeologists on Saturday said they have
discovered what may be the oldest Christian church in the Holy Land
on the grounds of a prison near the biblical site of
Armageddon.
The Israeli Antiquities Authority said the ruins are believed to
date back to the third or fourth centuries, and include references
to Jesus and images of fish, an ancient Christian symbol.
"This is a very ancient structure, maybe the oldest in our area,"
said Yotam Tepper, the head archaeologist on the dig.
The dig took place over the past 18 months at the Megiddo prison in
northern Israel, with the most significant discoveries taking place
in the past two weeks, Tepper said. Scholars believe Megiddo to be
the New Testament's Armageddon, the site of a final war between
good and evil.
Tepper said the discovery could shed new light on an important
period of Christianity, which was banned by the Romans until the
fourth century.
"Normally we have from this period in our region historical
evidence from literature, not archaeological evidence," he said.
"There is no structure you can compare it to, it is a very unique
find."
Channel Two television, which broke the story Saturday evening,
broadcast pictures of a detailed and well-preserved mosaic bearing
the name of Jesus Christ in ancient Greek and images of fish.
Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's ambassador to Israel, praised the find
as a "great discovery."
"Of course, all the Christians are convinced of the history of
Jesus Christ," he told Channel Two. "But is it extremely important
to have archaeological proof of a church dedicated to him?
Certainly."
Joe Zias, an anthropologist and a former curator with the Israeli
Antiquities Authorities, said the discovery was significant but
unlikely to be the world's oldest church. He said there were no
churches until Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the
fourth century.
"The earliest it could be is fourth century and we have other
fourth-century churches. I think what is important here is the
size, the inscription and the mosaics," he said. "I think it is an
important find as far as early Christianity but I wouldn't say it
was the oldest church in the world."
The Antiquities Authority said more than 60 prison inmates took
part in the dig in recent months. Channel Two said there is
speculation that Israel may move the prison and open a tourist
attraction in its place.
"If it's between a prison and a church, I would like a church,"
Zias said. "You can put a prison anywhere."
Israeli Tourism Minister Avraham Hirshzon said the discovery could
greatly increase tourism to Israel.
"If we nurture this properly, then certainly there will be a large
stream of tourists who could come to Israel. There is great
potential and together with the evangelical center in the north
could bring great strides in tourism," he told Channel Two.
