- Title: Mystery martyr's church unearthed in the Holy Land
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY WORKERS CLEANING MOSAIC FLOOR OF CHURCH AT EXCAVATION SITE MOSAIC FLOOR WITH PICTURE OF BIRD VARIOUS OF WORKER SCRAPING EARTH OFF MOSAIC FLOOR EXCAVATION DIRECTOR BENYAMIN STORCHAN, CLEANING LARGE MOSAIC INSCRIPTION ON THE FLOOR MOSAIC INSCRIPTION ON CHURCH FLOOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY'S EXCAVATION DIRECTOR, BENYAMIN STORCHAN, SAYING: "The story of this church, it's a church that expanded from the 6th century onward, it started, we found one inscription in the courtyard of the church which dedicates the site in the memory of a 'glorious martyr.' The martyr is unnamed and it's still a mystery who it is." ENTRANCE TO CRYPT BENEATH MAIN PART OF CHURCH STORCHAN WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS AND INTO CRYPT (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY'S EXCAVATION DIRECTOR, BENYAMIN STORCHAN, SAYING: "We're now standing in the holiest place of the church, in the crypt, that is located below the altar of the main sanctuary. The crypt here is accessed by a double-vaulted stairway which would allow pilgrims to enter and to exit without bothering the liturgic ceremonies above. This kind of construction is very rare, we only know of four examples of churches which have this kind of crypt and behind me is where the relics of the martyr would have been kept. This is the most sanctified area of the church and the reason it was erected in its initial phase." WORKERS PILING UP SACKS OF EARTH JERUSALEM, (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO "GLORIOUS MARTYR' BIBLE LANDS MUSEUM EXHIBIT WHICH DISPLAYS ARTEFACTS FOUND AT THE CHURCH GEOMETRICAL ORNAMENT FOUND AT CHURCH VARIOUS OF STONE INSCRIPTION ARTEFACT FOUND AT CHURCH GLASS DISPLAY CASES HOLDING ARTEFACTS FOUND AT CHURCH AND STONE INSCRIPTION ON THE WALL PLATE OF GLASS FOUND AT CHURCH
- Embargoed: 6th November 2019 12:01
- Keywords: church Jerusalem archaeology religion
- Location: BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL/ JERUSALEM
- City: BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL/ JERUSALEM
- Country: Jerusalem
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2BJSXZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Byzantine-era church built in honour of an unnamed martyr has been unearthed near Jerusalem, Israeli researchers said on Wednesday (October 23).
The three-year dig uncovered floors decorated with vast mosaics depicting birds, fruit and plants, colourful frescoes, and a curious Greek inscription that has baffled the researchers.
"We found one inscription in the courtyard of the church which dedicates the site in the memory of a 'glorious martyr,'" said Benyamin Storchan, who directed the excavation. "The martyr is unnamed and it's still a mystery."
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) dates the shrine, located about 10 miles west of Jerusalem, to the 6th century.
An underground crypt found below the main part of the church is believed to have housed the martyr's remains. "This is the most sanctified area of the church and the reason it was erected in its initial phase," said Storchan.
(Production: Ilan Rosenberg, Dedi Hayoun, Mayan Lubell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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