Megiddo church
Encyclopedia
Megiddo church near Tel Megiddo, Israel
is one of the oldest church buildings ever discovered by archaeologists, dating to the 3rd century AD.
In 2005, Israeli archaeologist Yotam Tepper
of Tel-Aviv University discovered the remains of a church, believed to be from the third century
, a time when Christians
were still persecuted by the Roman Empire
. The remains were found at the Megiddo Prison, which is located a few hundred meters south of the Tel. Among the finds is an approx. 54 square metres (64.6 sq yd) large mosaic
with a Greek
inscription stating that the church is consecrated to "the God Jesus
Christ." The mosaic is very well preserved and features geometrical figures and images of fish
, an early Christian symbol. It is speculated that this may be the oldest remains of a church in the Holy Land
. The remains were found within the grounds of a military prison, and Israeli authorities are currently speculating about moving the prison.
An inscription in the Megiddo church mentions a Roman
officer, "Gaianus," who donated "his own money" to have a mosaic made. The anthropologist Joe Zias, former curator for the Israeli Antiquities Authority, said "My gut feeling is that we are looking at a Roman building that may have been converted to a church at a later date." On the other hand, persecution of Christians was sporadic in the Roman Empire during the early third century. The archaeological evidence may point to a later, date placing the church in the last quarter of the 3rd or first quarter of the 4th century.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
is one of the oldest church buildings ever discovered by archaeologists, dating to the 3rd century AD.
In 2005, Israeli archaeologist Yotam Tepper
Yotam Tepper
Yotam Tepper is an Israeli archaeologist who discovered the Megiddo church complex, the oldest Christian house of worship ever discovered, under the modern Megiddo prison. Dated to the middle of the 3rd century AD, it is believed to be the earliest Christian site of worship ever discovered...
of Tel-Aviv University discovered the remains of a church, believed to be from the third century
Christianity in the 3rd century
The 3rd century of Christianity was largely the time of the Ante-Nicene Fathers who wrote after the Apostolic Fathers of the 1st and 2nd centuries but before the First Council of Nicaea in 325...
, a time when Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
were still persecuted by the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. The remains were found at the Megiddo Prison, which is located a few hundred meters south of the Tel. Among the finds is an approx. 54 square metres (64.6 sq yd) large mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
with a Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
inscription stating that the church is consecrated to "the God Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ." The mosaic is very well preserved and features geometrical figures and images of fish
Ichthys
Ichthys, from Koine Greek: , is the Greek word for "fish"....
, an early Christian symbol. It is speculated that this may be the oldest remains of a church in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
. The remains were found within the grounds of a military prison, and Israeli authorities are currently speculating about moving the prison.
An inscription in the Megiddo church mentions a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
officer, "Gaianus," who donated "his own money" to have a mosaic made. The anthropologist Joe Zias, former curator for the Israeli Antiquities Authority, said "My gut feeling is that we are looking at a Roman building that may have been converted to a church at a later date." On the other hand, persecution of Christians was sporadic in the Roman Empire during the early third century. The archaeological evidence may point to a later, date placing the church in the last quarter of the 3rd or first quarter of the 4th century.