[Hermann the Cherusker]

This is a great homily, but I must take issue with one line:

The Ark had been lost for 600 years. Jeremiah had hidden it before the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. No-one has found it ever since.

The Ark is in the Church of St. Mary of Zion at Axum, in Ethiopia, guarded by a Priest of the Ethiopian Church. I personally think Isaiah 18 is a pretty clear indication of this.

[Tantumergo]

"The Ark is in the Church of St. Mary of Zion at Axum, in Ethiopia, guarded by a Priest of the Ethiopian Church. I personally think Isaiah 18 is a pretty clear indication of this."

It might be, but I have heard so many tales of the discovery of the Ark in recent years, that I tend to be a little sceptical about them.

Many middle eastern countries had arks of course, but apart from Israel's they tended to have an effigy of the queen mother enthroned on the mercy seat.

Which of course is another OT type of Mary - the Gebirah or Queen Mother!!!!!