LEFT: An inscription is seen on the floor of what is believed to be an ancient church in Megiddo, Israel, on Sunday. An ancient church dating back to the third or fourth century has been discovered on the site of one of Israel's maximum security prisons, the Israel Antiquities Authority has revealed. RIGHT: A mural depicting fish on the floor in Megiddo.
MEGIDDO PRISON, Israel (Reuters):
IN A maximum-security jail just down the road from Armageddon, Israeli archaeologists have unearthed what they believe is the oldest church discovered in the land where Jesus was born.
"This is one of the most important finds of early Christianity," archaeologist Yardena Alexandre of the Israel Antiquities Authority told journalists on a tour of the excavation on Sunday.
Remains of the church, which archaeologists date to the mid-third to early-fourth century, were found during a dig for possible artefacts before the planned construction of a new prison wing.
The ruins of the church include a mosaic tile floor with inscriptions in ancient Greek containing a reference to 'The God Jesus Christ' and could shed light on early Christian practices.
The floor lies under a tarpaulin in the shadow of watchtowers, surrounded by high fences and barbed wire.
The jail is close to the hill of Armageddon, where the Book of Revelations says God will prevail over Satan in a fiery end-of-the-world battle.
"This is, in Israel for sure, the earliest church," archaeologist Yotam Tepper, who heads the excavation, told reporters.
He said archaeologists had previously discovered domestic prayer sites in the Holy Land that may be older than the ruins at the prison, but none that was classified as a church.
As he spoke, two inmates cleaned the mosaic designs with sponges.
The church was built in the style of a hall, and its mosaic floor contains geometric designs and an image of fish, an early Christian symbol.
One inscription on the floor indicates that a Roman soldier helped pay for the mosaics, and another dedicates a table to the memory of Jesus, archaeologists said.
Christians faced varying levels of persecution under the Roman Empire, interspersed with periods of calm. It was during such a lull that archaeologists believe the Megiddo church was built to serve a local Christian community.
"What is important about this find (at Megiddo) is it is in a transitional period. It is the very beginning of churches. There was no standard plan of a church," Alexandre said.
In 1998, American archaeologists excavating in southern Jordan said they had unearthed what they believed to be the world's oldest remaining church, dating to the late third or early fourth century.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the church a "very exciting" find. "This is truly an amazing story," he added, in remarks to reporters in Jerusalem.
Asked what Israel would do with the site, Sharon replied that "this matter is now being checked".
Archaeologists said they preferred to keep the church intact and in place but that the mosaics might be moved if necessary.
