Archaeologists Uncover the
“Oldest Church” in Israel
(November 2005)
Israeli archaeologists have uncovered
the ruins of a third- or fourth-century church in northern Israel, which they
believe could be the oldest ever found in the Holy Land.
The church contains a well-preserved mosaic, with references
to Jesus
Christ and images of fish - an ancient Christian symbol.
“This find is once in a lifetime,”
Chief archaeologist Yotam Tefer told VOA. “It is
very, very exciting.”
The church was found during renovations
at a prison in Megiddo - what the New
Testament calls Armageddon - the site of the final
apocalyptic war marking the end of the world.
“This is the place, the site of
the last battle, Armageddon,” said Mr. Tefer. “Of
course, this is the place. So, this is why it's so important
to the Christian world.”
Word of the find has electrified the
Christian world.
“Surely it is a great discovery,
which will be a confirmation for all the Christians
all over the world,” said Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's ambassador to Israel, told Israeli television.
“Of course, all the Christians
are convinced of the historicity of Jesus Christ,”
he added. “But it is extremely important to have
archaeological proof of a church dedicated to Him.”
It is also good news for the Israeli
tourism industry, which has been battered by five years
of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.
“This find made my heart palpitate!”
said Israel's tourism minister, Avraham Hirschzon. “It
could bring a very large flow of tourists to the country,”
he said. Israel is considering moving the prison where
the church was found, so it can open the site to the
public.
That would enable Christian pilgrims
visiting Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Galilee,
to include a stop at Armageddon.
Sources: Robert Berger, “Archaeologists
Uncover 'Oldest Church' in Holy Land,” Voice
of America, (November 6, 2005) |