Discovered the oldest Christian church in Israel

An Israeli prisoner is clearing rubble to build a new prison, discovering a delicate mosaic. Israeli archaeologists claimed it could be the foundation of an ancient church.

The discovery of the church in the northern town of Megiddo, Israel, was judged by experts to be important because it could reveal details of the early church development in the region. Archaeologists say the church dates back to the 3rd century, decades before Christianity was formalized throughout the Roman Empire.

" It's obviously the oldest church in Israel, and perhaps the whole region, is it even the world, it's still too early to assert, " said Yotam Tepper, archaeologist, head of state. .

Part of a mosaic depicting Jesus at Israel's oldest church

Two mosaics in the church, including a fish - a symbol of Christianity before the birth of the cross, tells the story of a Roman official and a woman named Aketous who paid money to build a church to honor Jesus.

The pottery from the 3rd century, the Greek script, the ancient geometry of the mosaic and the description of the fish instead of the cross proved that the church was no longer used until the 4th century. , which was mostly destroyed, was not built in ancient Roman style which was the standard of the time.

Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar, said the 2nd and 3rd centuries are a transitional period when people are shaping a faith. The ancient inscriptions found in Nazareth and Caperneum - the place where Jesus once lived - also proved that people used to go to church, but they were all secret.

" It was the time of chronic skin torture, but surprisingly, the image of Jesus is still clearly portrayed in the mosaic. But that is why the church was destroyed ," Pfann said. identify.

Excavations will continue for archaeologists to find the remaining area that could be a place of baptism.

MT ( according to AP )