Israeli archaeologists said Saturday (5-11-2005) they had discovered what may be the oldest Christian church in the Holy Land on the grounds of the planned site of a new prison ward near the Biblical site of Armageddon at Meggido in Israel.

"Normally, we have from this period in our region historical evidence from literature, not archaeological evidence," said Yotam Tepper, archaeologist in charge of the excavation. "There is no structure you can compare it to. It is a very unique find." He said "What's clear today is that it's the oldest archaeological remains of a church in Israel, maybe even in the entire region. Whether in the entire world, it's still too early to say".

Tepper said the discovery could reveal more about an important period of Christianity, which was banned until the fourth century. He said the most important evidence comes from three inscriptions found in the mosaics. Along the edge of the largest mosaic, featuring at its center the early Christian symbol of two fish and ancient Greek inscription referring to a Roman officer - many of whom were early converts to Christianity - who financed the structure's construction. 

Pottery remnants from the third century, the style of Greek writing used in the inscriptions, ancient geometric patterns in the mosaics and the depiction of fish rather than the cross indicate that the church was no longer used by the fourth century, Tepper said.

An inscription on a second mosaic, closer to the base of a pedestal whose use archaeologists have not determined, recalls by name four women from the community.

Tepper said the third inscription is the most archaeologically valuable. It reads: "The God-loving Aketous has offered this table to the God Jesus Christ, as a memorial."

The church's location, not far from the spot where the New Testament says the final battle of Armageddon between good and evil will take place, also made sense because a bishop was active in the area at the time, said Tepper, who works with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The inscription, which specifies that Aketous donated a table to the church, indicates the house of worship pre-dated the Byzantine era, when Christians began using altars in place of tables in their rituals, Tepper said. Remnants of a table were uncovered between the two mosaics.

The building — most of which was destroyed — also was not built in the Basilica style that was standard under the Byzantines, he added.

Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar and professor at the Holy Land University, said the second and third centuries were transitional periods where people sought to define their religious beliefs and modes of worship.

Iconography and inscriptions found in Nazareth and Caperneum — places where Jesus lived — show that believers went there to worship, although most did so secretly.

"This was a time of persecution and in this way it is quite surprising that there would be such a blatant expression of Christ in a mosaic, but it may be the very reason why the church was destroyed," Pfann said.

Joe Zias, an anthropologist and a former curator with the Israeli Antiquities Authorities, said the discovery was significant but unlikely to be the world's oldest church. He said Christianity was outlawed until the time of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, and there were no churches before then.

"The earliest it could be is fourth century and we have other fourth-century churches. I think what is important here is the size, the inscription and the mosaics," Zias said. "I think it is an important find ... but I wouldn't say it was the oldest church in the world."

"A discovery of this kind will make Israel more interesting to all Christians, for the church all over the world," said Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican envoy to Jerusalem. "Of course, all the Christians are convinced of the history of Jesus Christ," said Sambi. "But is it extremely important to have archaeological proof of a church dedicated to him? Certainly." 

As a matter of fact, the inscription says "the God Jesus Christ," which confirms the earliest confession of the deity of Jesus Christ in the primitive church, contrary to liberal revisionist propaganda such as The Da Vinci Code. This archeological finding confirms that the primitive church already recognises the deity of Jesus Christ and is NOT dated from the time of the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, but from the 3rd century. 

References

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-11-05-early-church_x.htm?csp=36

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1284524&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,174772,00.html