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Teens discover 1500-year-old church that redefines Israeli history
Keep the Faith ^ | Wednesday, November 27, 2019 | Wesley Hudson

Posted on 11/27/2019 12:22:15 PM PST by robowombat

Teens discover 1500-year-old church that redefines Israeli history

The church was discovered near Israel’s Ramat Beit Shemesh neighbourhood. An excavation, largely completed by teens, unearthed the church which dated back to 543 AD during the time of Emperor Justinian. After three years of detailed digging, archaeologists came across mosaics, pillars, still-intact crypts, and frescoes that at one time came together to form a beautiful church.

An inscription indicated the building was complete thanks to the financial support of the Emperor.

Excavation director Benjamin Storchan, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, told CBN News: “Numerous written sources attest to imperial funding for churches in Israel, however, little is known from archaeological evidence such as dedicatory inscriptions like the one found in Beit Shemesh.

“Imperial involvement in the building’s expansion is also evoked by the image of a large eagle with outspread wings.”

A 1,500-year-old church was found in Israel A 1,500-year-old church was found in Israel (Image: CBN) The church is from the Byzantine era and dates back to 543 AD The church is from the Byzantine era and dates back to 543 AD (Image: CBN) The eagle which appears in one of the mosaics is the symbol of the Byzantine empire.

Mr Storchan added: “Thousands of objects were uncovered in the dig, including a baptismal font.”

Another inscription discovered, in what would have been the church’s courtyard, says the church was dedicated to a “glorious martyr”.

The identity of the “martyr” remains unknown.

The eagle in the mosaic is the symbol of the Byzantine empire The eagle in the mosaic is the symbol of the Byzantine empire (Image: CBN) Mr Storchan said: “The martyr’s identity is not known, but the exceptional opulence of the structure and its inscriptions indicate that this person was an important figure.”

His team also uncovered a fully intact crypt beneath the church.

According to Mr Storchan, only a few churches in Israel have been discovered with a fully intact crypts.

He added: “The crypt served as an underground burial chamber that apparently housed the remains of the martyr.

Benjamin Storchan claimed only a few churches discovered in Israel had fully intact crypts Benjamin Storchan claimed only a few churches discovered in Israel had fully intact crypts (Image: CBN) “The crypt was accessed via parallel staircases, one leading down into the chamber and the other leading back up into the prayer hall.

“This enabled large groups of Christian pilgrims to visit the place.”

Thousands of teenagers were invited by the Israel Antiques Authority to help at the site.

The were invited to uncover history through the practice of archaeology.

Most of the excavations were carried out by the teens, who found thousands of objects.

The included glass windows lamps add the baptismal font.

The Bible Lands Museum partnered with the Israeli Antiques Authority to make the project possible.

Museum director Amanda Weiss said: “We are proud of our collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority bringing to light these important new finds for the thousands of visitors from all faiths ages and nationalities.

Ms Weiss invited visitors to “appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the Land of Israel”.

Written by: Wesley Hudson


TOPICS: Eastern Religions; History
KEYWORDS: ancientisrael; archaeology; baptism; baptismalfount; byzantineempire; church; crypt; emperorjustinian; ggg; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; israel; jerusalem; justinian; letshavejerusalem; martyr; ramatbeitshemesh; ramatbetshemesh; romanempire; yersiniapestis

1 posted on 11/27/2019 12:22:15 PM PST by robowombat
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To: robowombat; SunkenCiv

PinGGG!...................


2 posted on 11/27/2019 12:23:46 PM PST by Red Badger (Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain...................)
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To: robowombat
"Teens"

Usually that means some other demographic.

3 posted on 11/27/2019 12:32:20 PM PST by Pappy Smear
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To: Pappy Smear
I think this dig was y a ‘Jews for Jesus’ Israeli group.
4 posted on 11/27/2019 12:34:42 PM PST by robowombat (Orthodox)
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To: Pappy Smear

when the left wing msm uses the term teens, they usually mean 30 year old fighting age muslim men/terrorists


5 posted on 11/27/2019 12:35:27 PM PST by Bob434
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Before anybody makes any snarky comments, these are regular teen teens. The type that existed long ago before teens became teens


6 posted on 11/27/2019 12:37:15 PM PST by dsrtsage (Complexity is merely simplicity lacking imagination)
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To: robowombat

How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?


7 posted on 11/27/2019 12:51:45 PM PST by TalBlack (Damn right I'll "do something" you fat, balding son of a bitc)
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To: robowombat

“Thousands of teenagers were invited by the Israel Antiques Authority to help at the site.”

This is not uncommon. Good job teens!


8 posted on 11/27/2019 12:55:56 PM PST by Lent
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To: TalBlack

How does an entire building columns and all get buried l

Probably demolished completely when either the Persians in the 6th century or muzzards in any number of church demo campaigns. Then fill dumped and after some time other buildings were constructed.


9 posted on 11/27/2019 12:56:52 PM PST by robowombat (Orthodox)
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To: TalBlack

“How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?”

The Jihad? 7th century and MO was just around the corner.


10 posted on 11/27/2019 12:58:24 PM PST by Lent
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To: Bob434
In France, they were called "youths."

-PJ

11 posted on 11/27/2019 1:01:57 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (Freedom of the press is the People's right to publish, not CNN's right to the 1st question.)
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To: TalBlack

Cities build on cities. Buried in sand?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorvik_Viking_Centre


12 posted on 11/27/2019 1:10:53 PM PST by lizma2
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To: TalBlack

“How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?”

Until the late 1700’s, the Sphinx was buried up to its neck in sand.


13 posted on 11/27/2019 2:07:16 PM PST by myerson
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To: TalBlack
rain...
14 posted on 11/27/2019 4:25:50 PM PST by Chode (Send bachelors and come heavily armed.)
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...
Thanks Red Badger.

16 posted on 11/27/2019 4:28:40 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: TalBlack
How does an entire building columns and all get buried like this?

Two thousand years of geography and climate changes.
Ephesus, in modern day Turkey, used to be on the shores of the Aegean sea. Now it is is several miles inland.
With all the storms throughout those centuries entire CITIES can be buried.

Google: Ephesus was a center of travel and commerce with its one of the greatest seaports of the ancient world.
The port of Ephesus has silted up over the years and Ephesus is now about 6 miles inland from the coast. The area around Ephesus and harbor turned into a swamp.

18 posted on 11/27/2019 6:27:21 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: robowombat

How does it redefine Israeli history? in the 500s, the holy Land was in Christian hands under the Roman Empire


19 posted on 11/28/2019 1:27:34 AM PST by Cronos (Re-elect President Trump 2020!)
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