Archaeologists Discover Ancient Church-(heh JC and Armagedon... are we having fun?)

ap ^ | 11.7.05 | na

[Flavius]

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. ADVERTISEMENT

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.

[solitas]

ping

[FairOpinion]

This picture taken on Oct. 31, 2005 and released by the Israeli Antiquities Authority shows a mosaic with writing in ancient Greek with references to Christ, on the floor of what is believed to be the oldest church in Israel that was recently discovered in the grounds inside the Megiddo prison, near the biblical site of Armageddon, in central Israel and reported by Israel's Channel 2 TV Saturday Nov. 5, 2005. The ruins are believed to date back 1,700 years, and include references to Jesus and images of fish, the report said. Archaeological experts quoted in the story said it was the largest church ever discovered in the holy land, and could perhaps turn out to be the oldest church in the world.(AP Photo/Israel Antiquities Authority)

[Wiz]

Sorry for the duplicate. You synchronized with my move and I was few seconds late. It might be worth adding it on frontpage if you mind.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks solitas. Think I'll just add it, not ping it.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[FairOpinion]

If you just add it, you might also add for reference this one, a duplicate, but may get more responses.


Archaeologists Discover Ancient Church [in Israel, under a prison]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1516620/posts

[Flavius]

maybe i should have left your

i dont know how to send it anywhere else

[Flavius]

also i dont mind the duplicate...

this is pretty interesting because many people dont even belive that Jesus existed

so

pretty cool stuff, and i better dust off the bible

[Clink]

How long will it take for the Muslims to declare that this is actually a "very holy area of Islam"?

[Flavius]

yeah, they will say there is the moon bat cave underneath that church

[SmithL]

Pretty Cool Stuff. Here's more from the Jerusalem Post: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1516475/posts

[PositiveCogins]

Christianity that existed in the holy land before Mohammad. Case closed for me. Islam has no right to existence in this world and should be baned from this planet. Along with pestilence, disease and a raving bitch, Islam is an enemy of all mankind and should be eradicated immediately.

[trailboss800]

ping

[rvoitier]

Israeli Antiquities Authority

[Iscool]

He said there were no churches until Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the fourth century.

Obviously there's no accuracy in that statement... Probably should have said there were no Catholic churches until Constantine took over...

[Carry_Okie]

Thanks.

[satchmodog9]

bump

[NYer]

Signs of the Second Coming

Here are the signs ........

1. Jerusalem will return again to Jewish hands shortly before the Second Coming (Luke 21:24):

2. Sometime before the Second Coming, 2/3 of the Jews in the "whole land" will be exterminated (Zechariah 13:8-9). During the Holocaust, almost exactly 2/3 of Europe's Jews perished.

3. The Jewish nation will be reborn in a single day (Isaiah 66:5-8). This was literally fulfilled on May 14, 1948. The modern State of Israel was born in a single day following the passage of UN Resolution 181.

4. Jews will be regathered to Israel from around the entire world. (Ezekiel 36:22-28) and (Jeremiah 16:14-15). The current return of the Jews to Israel apparently even includes Jews from the ten lost tribes. Over the past decade about 600 "B'nei Manashe", a tribe from the Indian-Burmese border, have immigrated to Israel. They believe themselves to be the lost tribe of Manassah, exiled from Israel by the Assyrians in 723 BC. Their oral tradition speaks of the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; they circumcise male children on the 8th day, as required by Jewish law; use prayer shawls with fringes, as do Jews; practice ritual purification as described in the OT; and follow many other ancient Jewish religious customs. Their priests use the Hebrew name of God as it appears in the Torah ("Yahweh") and invoke Mt. Sinai, Mt. Moriah and Mt. Zion.

5. The new Jewish state shall be extremely prosperous (Isaiah 66:9-4).

6. The fight over the city of Jerusalem will cause a world war (Zechariah 12:1-3; Joel 3:2 and Revelation 16:16).

7. But Israel will be miraculously militarily strong and able to successfull defend itself (Zechariah 12:6-9).

8. There will be widespread conversion of the Jews.. It is this last one that has not yet been fulfilled.

Source: Salvation is from the Jews

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[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Scholars believe Megiddo to be the New Testament's Armageddon, the site of a final war between good and evil.

Here we go...

Now there is something concrete to fight over.