News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

byzantine-church-youtube_article_image.jpg
YouTube/Arutz Sheva TV
World News

Discovered 1,500-year-old Byzantine church dedicated to martyr

After three years of excavations, the Israel Antiquities Authority believes that it was a site of pilgrimage until the Abbasid caliphate in the ninth century.

Historians believe the church was built in honour of an unnamed martyr, as excavations revealed a mosaic floor with Greek inscriptions explaining so.

Findings from the church were put on display at an exhibition titled "The Glorious Martyr" starting last Wednesday at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. The site is also known as "The Church of the Glorious Martyr."

"In the Byzantine period, locations traditionally associated with major events of the Old and New Testaments, including sites linked to saints and martyrs, were venerated as holy places. Churches containing martyrs' relics became important destinations for Christian pilgrims," museum noted.

The church was first uncovered by the Construction and Housing Ministry during construction work aimed at expanding the city of Bet Shemesh's suburb Ramat Bet Shemesh, which is located about 18 miles from Jerusalem.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

 
Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

Connect

Donate

Donate