Archaeologists work in the cave church in Rihab after the discovery of the site in June (File photo)
Posted on 11/15/2008 5:12:01 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The government on Wednesday rejected as baseless rumours it intends to permanently close down two key Christian sites in the eastern town of Rihab. Community leaders in the town have been threatening to step up a protest they started after the archaeologist who discovered what is said to be the oldest cave church in the world was removed from his post as director of the former Rihab Archaeological and Research Centre, which is now called the Rihab Archaeological Project... The cave church lies under a 3rd century church and is said to have been a hidden worshipping place for early Christians who fled persecution at the hands of Romans... Residents expressed rejection of what they perceived as ministry orders to bury the cave and close down the site in the face of tourists, but Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Maha Khatib told The Jordan Times in a telephone interview that her ministry is working on a site management plan for both churches to be implemented "soon"... Rihab Mayor Khaled Akho Rsheida quoted archaeology officials in Rihab as telling him they had received "verbal" orders from Antiquities Department Director General Fawwaz Khreisha to "conceal the sites, take down the signs and prevent tourists from visiting the location".
(Excerpt) Read more at jordantimes.com ...
Archaeologists work in the cave church in Rihab after the discovery of the site in June (File photo)
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