Israeli Archaeologists Find Tiny Christian Relic in Jerusalem Excavation
- Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:24pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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A Byzantine Christian icon box made of bone with a cross carved on the lid was discovered on an excavated Jerusalem street, archaeologists said Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
JERUSALEM (AP) — A tiny, exquisitely made box found on an excavated street in Jerusalem is a token of Christian faith from 1,400 years ago, Israeli archaeologists said Sunday.
The box, carved from the bone of a cow, horse or camel, decorated with a cross on the lid and measuring only 0.8 inches by 0.6 inches (2 centimeter by 1.5 centimeter), was likely carried by a Christian believer around the end of the 6th century A.D, according to Yana Tchekhanovets of the Israel Antiquities Authority, one of the directors of the dig where the box was found.
When the lid is removed, the remains of two portraits are still visible in paint and gold leaf. The figures, a man and a woman, are probably Christian saints and possibly Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
The box was found in an excavation outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City in the remains of a Byzantine-era thoroughfare, she said. Uncovered two years ago, it was treated by preservation experts and extensively researched before it was unveiled at an archaeological conference last week.
The box is important in part because it offers the first archaeological evidence that the use of icons in the Byzantine period was not limited to church ceremonies, she said.
Part of a similar box was found three decades ago in Jordan, but this is the only well-preserved example to be found so far, she said. Similar icons are still carried today by some Christian believers, especially from the eastern Orthodox churches.
The relic was found in the City of David excavation, a Jerusalem dig named for the biblical monarch believed to have ruled a Jewish kingdom from the site.
The politically sensitive dig is located in what is today the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, just outside the Old City walls in east Jerusalem, the section of the holy city captured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians as their capital.
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Comments (125)
hgaut
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:10pmWhat an awesome find. Imagine the person that it once belonged to. They‘re gone but their little box is still here as a testimony to that person’s faith. I find biblical archealogy fascinating. Good story.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:04amImagine what would have happened if the occupiers calling themselves Palestinians had lived there. There never would have been an excavation, because they don’t care. Had they found holy Christian artifacts they would have been destroyed.
Report Post »Dudley Do-Right
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:02pmThat cross looks just like the one I wear around my neck.
Report Post »Merrymix
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:53pmYou‘re darned tootin’ — Purgatory is nowhere in the Bible!! Your good friend, Martin Luther, made sure you didn’t see it. He removed the Book of Maccabees that said: “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins.” All the things he didn’t want you to believe, he removed — just like — “Faith without works is useless.” Book of James
Report Post »right
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:34pmMerrymix… you are misinformed…. The Catholic church itself didn’t even recognize the Maccabees as official/god-inspired books of The Bible (which is why they only appeared in the “Apocrypha” section of the Catholic bible)
Report Post »TheVoice1
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:42pmAbsolutely astonishing how quickly the posts turned into a squabble !!!!! News Break!!!! It is not the Catholic church or any other church for that matter that is our salvation, it is Jesus Christ…. “my church is the only one, no my church is the only one, no my church is the only one,” blah blah blah…Jesus Christ is the only one folks! Here’s a wake up call, you think this might be part of the reason folks are leaving and staying away from “your” church in large numbers? You think??? For the love of God let’s enjoy the discovery without all of this blah blah blah…. Jesus Christ is the answer and the way. There aren’t any Catholic, Baptist, Protestant sections in heaven or in Christ. John 17 our Beloved cried out “that they may be one even as we are one” …… Rev. It wasn’t the pope, Martin Luther, Peter, or anyone else who could open the book, or take it from hand of He who sat on the throne, only the lamb of God, Jesus Christ the Lord of Life and I don’t care what particular church you are associated with, that is written in all your translations. This has always amazed me…. Peter didn’t give his life for a Catholic church or any other church for that matter, nor did his wife who was burned at the stake, nor would you, only for Christ. You can deny the name of your specific church but you cannot deny Christ. “I was born a Protestant or I was born a Catholic” give it a break. Unless you are born in Christ your dog and pony show is over. Hello!!!!!
Report Post »Christian4ever
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:16pmAMEN!!!! Very nicely said. I agree 100 %.
Report Post »Tronix
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:38amBeautiful!!..agree 100%. It is not religion; it is spirituality, and personal relationship with Jesus.
Report Post »free_indeed
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:11amI’m so glad you said this! To someone who doesn’t believe who sees the way christians bicker about doctrine, why would they want any part of that? Its disheartening.
Report Post »Here’s are some great verses on this….
I Timothy 1:5-7 “Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is LOVE, which springs from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith.But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter and have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law but they have no understanding either of the words they use or the subjects about which they make dogmatic assertions.”
II Timothy 2:23 “But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with ) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels”
patriotone
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:46amIf the Gospel of Our Lord is to be taken as the guidebook, or entrance guide in to Heaven then how could any Church that does not follow the path determined by God succeed in promoting salvation?
Perhaps Purgatory is for those who are in the “right Church wrong Pew” category with a true and honest belief of Jesus Christ’s divinity but find His instructions too uncomfortable to fully embrace so they let themselves believe that Salvation is assured (and it may be) because they are faithful and devout in their own way. They may not even realize that what they are doing is not, precisely, what Jesus asked or intended. Certainly the devout Jew will not burn in Hell, though they may (or may not) find that their road to Heaven continues longer due to the beliefs held by their fathers.
We have been given a clear set of instructions defined in accounts of the Last Supper. “Do this in memory of me.” is not a suggestion nor a mild request to be taken lightly or discarded. Those that seek forgiveness without Confession or Redemption without Communion risk prolonging (or averting) the very salvation they seek!
Your end on this Earth can be the beginning of Life Everlasting or it can follow another path, even one which ends in final Death. Back to the dust from which you came. When did Jesus speak of Martin Luther?
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:09pm@THEVOICE1, Your comment is proof that the death of common sense has been greatly exaggerated… Thank You.
Report Post »BlazerBlazer
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:48pmAgree!!!!!
Report Post »mcgrawactor1
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 8:24pmI think this story is beautiful and afffirming. Can’t we all just focus like a laser beam on the miracle of this find, and not on what might divide us as believers??? C’mon, Christians, STAND TOGETHER. Arguing about doctrine, and the divides between the denominations (is there a purgatory oper se, or are we damned or saved no mater what) will ultimately give non-Christians the power to destroy us. Why can’t we be like our Jewish brethren and stand together on the important stuff? I am still awed by that relic!!!!
Report Post »flatbroke
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 8:15pmPlease christians quit fighting amonst ourselves, we all worship the same God, and we all beleive in Jesus as our savior. Catholics- understand your church dosent own the patent on christianity. evangeligals- understand that our church doesnt have all the answers, and everyone needs to read there bibles. we are all christains, so lets act like it.
Report Post »Alfred F. Jones
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:46pmAmen! Unfortunately half the commenters on this page did not get your message. Its a shame..
Report Post »Tall Shrek
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 8:04pmChrisians need to stop the in-fighting with eachother in these posts and realize whats really important; Islam wants Christianity destroyed. Lets focus on what real threat is, ISLAM. Love the story.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:56pmIslam does not want christianity destroyed. they want our unjust policies to end. All three faiths believe in God[Allah means God-no matter what you slanderers say] and christians are also palestinians.. Stop using Christianity as a foil to hate your neghbor[the muslims] and start building peace among the three believers in God. [and the conflicts are political-not religious in the mid east. even in coptic egypt-the tensions arose as a result of political divisions imposed by first colonialists and them puppet regimes which favored one group over another[coptics in egypt were privileged]. Stop viewing this totalizing good vs. evil scenario-the muslims are your brothers and we’re called as christians to love our neighbors. look for just political solutions -not dehumanizing and reductivist genocidal hatreds of the other.Even backward people have rights.[I go back to the early Christians myself-by the way]Though you don’t believe me whatever I say about myself.
Report Post »ObserverMI
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:16pm“[Allah means God-no matter what you slanderers say]”
It means God to Muslims however doesn‘t mean it’s the same God we believe in.
Report Post »For Christians Jesus ‘is’ God, one of the trinity. Muslims believe him only a prophet.
So at the root, we believe Jesus is God, they do not.
No slander, intellectual honesty.
ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:38pm@Rose-Ellen
Report Post »You must be feeling suicidal… and/or… you’re a liberal. They’re kind of one in the same. I will not site back and change/tolerate nor allow our society to be overrun by a bunch of throwbacks who would all just as well slit our throats. Oh… and how do you feel about Sharia? As a woman are you ready to become some guys property? No more education, no driving, no talking, no voting and probably no say in who your husband is… I mean… if You’re okay with that then by all means, prove it and move your sorry ass to Afghanistan and embrace your brethren. Our “unjust” policies are …. well… just being here and breathing. I also won’t stand by and allow them to massacre more jewish people. God you’re an insufferable fool. Go stand at a street corner near OWS… drop your pants and grab your ankles…. then experience the future you’re pot induced brain malfunction will bring you.
helluvagoodgod
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:44pmDear Hose-Ellen, You should go live in a muslim country. You would be beaten for sure and probably stoned to death for that mouth of yours.
Report Post »RustyElbows
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:49am“Islam does not want Christianity destroyed. they want our unjust policies to end.”
Although completely free to do so, the thought process of Rose-Ellen concerning Islam emboldens those that want to destroy us….. “us” being anyone that does not believe in/conform to the Koran. Read some history (not history re-written by liberals), read the Bible, then read the Koran and tell us you still believe as you do. As we attempt to love our enemies we need to stay vigilant and not be destroyed by them in the process of that attempt. Political correctness (they want our unjust policies to end) is slowly chipping away at our foundation. Bowing down to Islamic demands is only one facet of PC that is killing us as a nation.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:16amWe do need to stop arguing among ourselves. We each chose to be Christians in our own way. What is important is that Christianity is under attack by Islam. We all know it.
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:11pm@ROSE-ELLEN… A Demitasse would fit your head like a sombrero.
Report Post »PJL
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 7:24pmHow cool is That!
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:45pmGod is God and as dem muslims say and we christians assent-there is no God but God. Hence in actuality-whenever anyone prays to God [whatever name or word they give Him ] they are praying to the ONE and ONLY God.Since Jesus Christ is part of the Godhed of the triune God-then both muslims .and jews are in fact praying to Jesus when they pray to the one and only God.[as is a pagan who never heard or read the bible, say]. because there is only one God. Even if people call God the spaghetti monster in the sky who rules the universe-they would in fact be praying to the one and only God [and Jesus Christ is part of the Godhead],. So -as Jesus tells us-not all who say Lord, Lord are pleasing but those who do His will. People can’t help what they happen to believe and what names they give to deity. But God knows everything -and Jesus hears all prayers.
Report Post »Capitalist Mama
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:53pmActually no, Rose-Ellen, you are wrong.
Belief in Jesus requires a certain set of believes. Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God.
Before you discuss Christianity like you know something about it, why don’t you read our book? The Bible- which contains the thoughts and deeds of our God. Specifically Jeremiah the prophet tells how God feels about other gods.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:33pmHI– I will take you at your word tha you are asking sincerely. First. Purgatory is not a place of judgement. It is a place, or condition, where reparation is made for sin forgiven. Think of it this way — a man is convicted in court of bank robbery. The judge offers to commute the sentence to time served and expunge the record IF he gives the money back. His crime is forgiven – there is no hell/jail but he still may not profit from his crime. Purgatory is not damnation, if you are in Purgatory, you are indeed forgiven and saved — but you are still a muddy human soul.
For those of you protestants who think there is no Scriptural basis for Purgatory, read this again:
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (Ist Corinthians)
Purgatory is that fire. Really read that last verse: HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, YET SO AS THROUGH FIRE.
QED
Report Post »TheVoice1
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:10pmAlready in a fuss??????
We are simply looking at a Christian relic here!!! Come on!!!!!
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:24pmTallscot— fyi, there are many relics purported to exist from the time of Christ, including splinters of the cross itself. People like you dismiss those as frauds. However, there are many writings extant from the time of right after Christ by early Christian scholars, bishops, and historians. There a number of letters of St Clement, one of the first Bishops of Rome after St Peter. There is a Clement mentioned in the New Testament, and is sometimes thought to be the same individual. In other words, despite what you may think, the literary continuum from the time of Christ and into externally verifiable history is virtually unbroken.St Ignatius (see my avatar) wrote that there were Christians in Rome at his time who personally knew the first disciples.
I would turn the proposition around and ask, If you do not believe that a person identifiable as Jesus of Nazareth ever lived, where does “reality” begin? Did Saints Peter and Paul really exist? What about St Luke? What about Linus, who is mentioned in Scripture, and was the first successor to Peter as Bishop of Rome? Or St Clement? Why don;t you tell us where history ended and fantasy began?
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:18pmSuch a small, beautiful piece of historical artifact that demonstrates the truth of the son of God, Jesus Christ.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:39pmIt really is amazing isn’t it? Wonder if they’ll be able to clean it up any more so we could see the pictures in it. It’s exquisite.
Report Post »stmikearchangel
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:43pmThe Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ. You are Peter and this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against. 2000 years of history. The Catholic Church put the Canon of scripture together until Martin Luther removed 7 books from the Bible.
Report Post »Stryker
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:18pmYou completely took that verse out of context. Read the book sometime…..it’s pretty good.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:24pmYes, but guess what? Reuben was Jacob’s “Rock” that is to say “Strength”, and the children of Reuben ended up getting swallowed by the earth.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:26pmThat’s why Catholics should go back to their first love.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:28pmOr they will be sent into perdition just as Reuben was.
Report Post »hi
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:35pmJesus died on the cross to take away our sins. We go straight to heaven when we die because He paid for our sins. Don’t Catholics believe in purgatory which is not in the Bible? If that is the case, then Jesus dying on the cross was for no reason according to Catholics who believe they are judged in purgatory. Can you explain this to me, with all due respect? I’m not being sarcastic.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:46pmHI,
Report Post »Jesus conquered in that he conquered to be a wonderful advocate in Heaven. He died for the original sin, and Jesus advocates to the Father, and I assure you that you are not automatically forgiven all your sins. Otherwise people can just go about sinning all they want to.
stmikearchangel
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:50pmSorry…I have and I have 2000 years of tradition to back me up Dude….
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:51pmJesus advocates to the Father in Heaven, just as a dad might advocate his own son to the grandfather for whom the grandchild has a much more difficult time walking a straight-line to the grandfather. But you believe what you want to. It’s your soul.
Report Post »stmikearchangel
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:52pmThe word Trinity isn’t in the Bible either but you believe in that, unless you are a Mormon…
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:56pmLook at it this way. Whatever church isn’t of Christ, it will be plowed over by Socialists and then Muslims. I guess we will see where the Catholics stand.
Report Post »boundforglory
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:57pmAny church that claims that they are the only true church is a cult, like catholics, jehoveh witneses, mormans, and others. You are deceiving yourselves and anyone who follows you. Demons want you to believe you are the only one, to deceive you so you will end up in the fires of hell. By the way, there is no place in the bible that talks about purgatory, also the catholics have removed a commandment from the bible, the one that says: You shall not make for yourselves any graven image. the catholic church is full of graven images.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:00pmGreat, another Catholic-bashing orgy straight out of the gate, good one Blazers. I’m Eastern Orthodox, not Catholic, but share in Rome’s heritage -or vice versa ; ) – and these exercises in ignorance always sicken me. Someone say “Purgatory” isn’t in the Bible? Neither is”Trinity.” For that matter, the Table of Contents isn’t part of the Bible either. The last book of Scripture wasn’t even written until about 100AD; where was your “Bible-based church” before the Bible was complete? And as StMichael observes, who exactly decided what belonged in this new part of the Bible? Why do we not have the Gospel of St Peter, or the Epistles of St Clement? Do you know why we have both the Apocalypse and the Gospel of St John?
How many of you protestants are Lutheran? Why not? If you can’t believe the man who first broke from Rome, why do you believe any of those who did afterward?
BTW I was raised protestant, my grandfather was a Congregationalist minister, in Plymouth, Mass., where the Pilgrims came ashore. It was a helluva wrench to look at everything I had been raised to believe and what I considered my heritage, and realize, “This is just wrong.”
Try it.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:11pmTheGreyPiper,
Report Post »I‘m not bashing Catholics but that I’m trying to help them. Because Islam is in fact going to form a Caliphate, and Europe is loaded with Muslims, and they’ll just meet in the middle to build a Mosque out of the Vatican. Hey, you‘re either of Christ or he’s spitting you out…period.
Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:20pmSo many people live in a fantasy land. And the thing about fantasy is you can’t see reality, when those who live in reality can see reality happening on the ground. Just like the lightning strikes in the East and Reflects in the West. But people who live in fantasy don’t see the lightning striking, and they definitely don’t see it reflecting in the west.
Report Post »CatholicTexanGrandma
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:24pmYour summary is quite accurate. What is even more important is that he gave Paul the keys to the kingdom. The symbolism references the Davidic kingdom which they all would have understood, the person given the keys was the highest ranking person in the king’s court – the prime minister. He had power over the others and was refered to as a father or papa (Pope in Italian)
He called Peter, just as God called Eli’akim in Isiah, and by giving him the keys, gave him the power over his court, his people, his church.
We look to the Old Testament to understand the New Testament.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 7:27pmExcept Roman Catholics broke away from the original church, changing the original doctrine enough to cause quite a bit of trouble all the way up to today. heresy beget heresy and now you end up with crazy westboro baptists and other groups Christ would not recognize.
Report Post »SerikFox
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 8:20pmArrogance, ignorance, hate, and revenge are the things that destroy. Isn’t it just a tad bit arrogant to believe that your church is the only “true” church? We do not have all the answers as humans, and it’s both arrogant and ignorant to think that we do. You have no way to know, and you won’t know until you die. Only God knows everything. I personally don’t bother to identify with any given church, but rather identify simply as a christian. Why? Because I don’t know everything. I believe things that others may not, but I can‘t absolutely guarantee that I’m right and they’re wrong. I don’t need to know what purgatory is like (if there is one), I don’t need to understand heaven, and I don’t need to understand hell. All that I need to know, and all that I can know for sure, is that Jesus is my Lord.
To all of the self-drescribed christians on this page: talking to others in a condescending manner will not gain their support. You hurt your own cause when you speak down to all. Insults and disrespect will get you no-where. For example: “poor fool; I’ll pray that you find the truth” is not going to get you respect. It’s going to do the exact opposite. You are an enemy to yourself and to your own message when you talk down to others.
Report Post »Faith1029
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:33pmHI: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
A great many people believe falsely in purgatory—a miserable place where people supposedly go after death. In order to advance to heaven, a person supposedly must either suffer long enough to make restitution for his or her sins or be prayed out by loved ones still living. The doctrine is an unbiblical lie, because purgatory is a thinly veiled second chance for people to get into heaven.
There is not a single verse with which to defend the false theology of purgatory. In fact, the very idea of a second route to heaven runs counter to God’s redemptive plan. Jesus Christ was the substitute for you and me, and His death paid our sin-debt. He obtained our eternal redemption with His blood (Heb. 9:12). If there is a place where people can go to suffer for their own sins—in other words, pay their own penalty—then God sending His Son to die makes no sense.
In John 14:2, Jesus told the disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for His followers. Nowhere in Scripture do we find any mention of a detour into misery where we “earn” a pass into heaven. The Bible says that believers are either at home in the body, or absent from it and present with the Lord. There is simply no in-between stopover. Those who reject Christ get no second chance after death. They are eternally separated from God. But whoever receives salvation is complet
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:45am@StMikeArchAngel
You do not even know who “Michael” is in the Bible so why should anyone listen to what you say….
Do some research around the “Michael” and then we will talk. Michael wasn’t just an Angel or an angel……
And no, The Catholic Church was not found by Jesus and peter was not a Pope or assigned Pope. If you are honest you will find truth showing you that.
Martin Luther was simply one leader of many denouncing your “church”..Remember your church charged money to forgive sin…..While these leaders questioned different books, they certainly didn’t ban the Bible and burn it for years like your church did.
Before casting stones makes sure you are sinless and have facts. You do not have facts. Educate yourself. Here to help anytime if you’d like. Take care and good luck.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:00amP.S.
Purgatory came from the Pagan Romans/Greeks…..Pluto, Socrates….
You do not go to heaven when you die for Jesus would then not have anyone to raise at his second coming….
You do not go to hell at death for Jesus would have no one to raise at the resurrection of the wicked….
The Bible clearly talks about both resurrections and Jesus Himself said the Father gave Him the role over resurrection. He cannot resurrect (awaken) those already at the locations He is taking or sending them….
That is one obvious false teaching of your “church”….Seek truth now and you will see more false teachings….
Report Post »right
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:41pmthose 7 books only appeared in the catholic Apocrypha — the Catholic church itself questioned the authenticity of the Apocrypha as god-inspired writings
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:41pmAbsolutely beautiful to see such finds unearthed, thank you for sharing with us.
Report Post »louise
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:16pmIt is bueatiful. I like the fact that the cross does not have Jesus on it. I have always loved crosses without Jesus on them because it reminds me that He is risen.
Report Post »Carol Ingian
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:16pmAwesome!
Report Post »I can’t help but thinking how precious this little box is. The artist that created it put time and love into making it, whoever owned it must have treasured it, and now all these years later we can enjoy seeing it. A wonderful reminder that God has been important to us throughout the generations.
Tidy Bowl Man
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:43pmIt is possible that there was a punishment for just being a believer! Something small and easy to keep on your person and hide!
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 6:07pmPossibly, although by the 6th century the Church had been legalized and though Imperial and local persecutions still cropped up, were nowhere near what they had been under Nero, for example.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:50pmWe’re just lucky the Israelis found it before the Palestinians did. It may never have been heard from again if it had.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 10:56pmPalestinians are also christians.More rewriting of history-or deliberate disregarding inconvenient truths. i see sharia law like any laws of a nation-sharia complies to how the koran is interpreted and like our constituion and our bible -that can be anything. it can be backward and oppressive or enlightened and humane. i put my trust that islam is evolving and will come a long way in this century. It won’t happen over night and like democratic socialism/capitalist hybrid [a coming to the USA] it will get push back and have set backs but islam is on the move to be an authentic 21stc enlightened religion[okay maybe 19th or 20thc].
Report Post »momrules
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:40pmHow beautiful…………….. it must really irritate the Muslims to always be proven wrong.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:55amMuslims are not anti christian.When it was said Mary appeared to christians in egypt in the early 60′s the muslims were out enmasse praying to her. Only you rabid right wing ignoramuses believe that muslims are against christians[they are against western policies in their homeland of course]. Your false narrative is driven by the Fox agenda[genocide against muslims].Brainwashed gulls.[And notice how left wing the Fox network is regarding all domestic issues].Even their darling Cain-is a big liberal when it comes to domestic issues as are all viable RINOS.You’re being led down the garden path by that cagey Fox..
Report Post »tallscot
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:29pmWeird how there aren’t any Christian artifacts from right after Jesus was crucified or while he was alive. You’d think that any of those people who witnessed him perform all those miracles would have created SOMETHING. In fact, you’d think the kings who witnessed the birth of Jesus at the manger and gave him gifts would have had SOMETHING written down or created to commemorate the event, right? You got angels singing and kings traveling to give him gifts, and NOTHING is written about it – no artifacts of any kind. Weird. Sure, you’ll find something created 600 years after he died. And where did those kings go? They traveled all that distance to praise the birth of the messiah, and then they just pack it up and go home and forget about it? Weird.
Mormons like Glenn show us that religions pop up and are created by men all the time, throughout history. Scientology is the most recent example. And so you have people like Glen who thinks some crackpot in Utah spoke to God and wrote a “bible” from this conversation, and you have crackpots who think L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology is 100% accurate.
Oh yeah, MY mythological stories are accurate but YOURS are crazy.
They are all stories written by men, badly in many cases. Crack open the Bible and actually read the thing. It’s insane. Maybe you have and you just pick and choose what you want to believe. So SOME of it is just made-up stuff by men, but other parts are definitely from God. Ha!
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:39pmFirst of all, Yahshua is still alive. The people who knew him personally did write books about him. We call those “the New Testament”. They didn’t make graven images of him because they were forbidden by the Bible (still are, for that matter).
Report Post »Isaiah52021
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:44pmMaybe you should educate yourself before you post, there are artifacts from the time of Jesus so your rant holds no water. I guess you are as uneducated as you are a lost soul. Prayers my friend. The Bible also makes sense pray for your eyes to be opened then read it again, you’ll be amazed.
Report Post »blaze2453
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:56pmWe only have the Dead Sea Scrolls to prove your ridiculous and stupid butt wrong.
Report Post »Besides, how could one man, Jesus, move so many people in such a positive and uplifting way for centuries? You thing dying on the cross for everyone so that they never have to live in guilt for their sins the rest of their lives is miniscule? You are sinning simply by hating. And you will live to regret it, my friend. It is called the after life. When you reject who is trying to save your soul, your afterlive is not a good one.
akairey
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:57pm@ Tallscott
Report Post »1) They were 3 wisemen-not kings.
2) We were told NOT to make graven images.
3) Roman’s ravaged, pillaged, or burned just about everything prior 600 b.c.
4) Your mythological stories are “accurate”…..prove it!
5) You would rather believe you came from a rock…with “billions” of years of evolution?
So sad for you! We’ll all pray for your pour soul.
garyM
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:04pmJesus is alive and well today Bubba , sitting on the right hand of the Father, Just as alive as He was when 2000 years ago, When He ascended and the men stood there and watched Him ascend and recorded it as so, the Bible says, this man Jesus will return in the same manner that you seen Him leave. The Holy Spirit living inside of each believer as individuals so that we are joined together in unity praising and honoring His name. Those are the people He is returning for. It doesn’t sound as though you want to be one of those people. eternity is a long time to be wrong. The reason you can‘t understand the Bible is because God has blinded the eyes and ears of those who don’t believe or the glorious Gospel would shine through so you could be saved. The natural man doesn’t understand the things if God because they are Spiritually discerned, they are foolishness to him. God called that one right huh! He called all of them right, the only place a person can find absolute truth is from God and the Bible! I’m sure glad He seen fit to save a sinner like me and that required allot of grace and mercy!
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:09pmWill be praying for your lost soul and that you will call out to God for grace and mercy and the devil will have no more control over you!
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:11pmDidn‘t JESUS say it was usless to tell Heavenly things to wordly people because they wouldn’t believe. I guess tallscot is one of the people JESUS meant. If he knows of JESUS and doesn’t believe he is condemed, he’s on death row, and from his comments he will stay there.
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.
Report Post »Believe it or not, it’s up to you.
dontbotherme
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:39pmtallscot: Is thy name legion? Your soul is lost. Turn toward God & the truth. It’s not too late. However, God will not be mocked. When you make your insults, you are not directing them towards those of us who believe, you are directing them towards God almighty. Are you sure you want to do this? It is obvious that you fear Him. It‘s not hard to hear God’s voice & be saved. Just listen.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 4:51pmWhen Jesus was crucified he said and now comes down the prince of this world. In Revelation it says there was war in Heaven and Michael and all his Angels cast out the Dragon. And when the Dragon saw he was cast onto the earth, the Dragon went off to make war with the remnants of his seed. That’s why there is so much vagueness around Christianity.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 5:02pmThe Book of Revelation Begins with the crucifixion of Jesus, and goes on from there. The Dragon was even waiting for Jesus to be born, and that’s why they fled from one place to another. It was summarized to John the way it is and things which must come to pass. They have weapons prepared against God even now.
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:24pmtell the muslim’s to give the temple mound back to the Jews and take there sand turd religion with them.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 11:19pmThat’s not very christian of you. Then again you’re christianity takes second fiddle to your right wing nationalism Christianity is more of a tribal affiliation used to justify vilification of your genocidal targets[muslims] .Ain’t nothing Christ like about you . Your tauting real estate for ancient tribal affiliations is primitive- the antithesis of Christ come to make us spiritual men-and his spirit shall renew the face of the earth].jerusalem is the Church on earth and Heaven-not a homeland for a tribe based on the bible- which is a revelation about salvation history -not about history or geography or about which tribes God favors.God chose the jews to first reveal himself to but then His revelation exteends to all .Christ died for all mankind. Christ came to bring us to authentic holiness through his saving grace -not through allegence to any tribe.All men are our brothers -including dem muslims.
Report Post »Sheepdog69
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:44amRose-Ellen…Is it the role of Christians to just accept whatever anyone wants to throw at them? Muslims want to kill Christains…we should just accept that!? Or should we stand up and defend ourselves?
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:58pmThe presumption that these two portraits represent Jesus and Mary present the same use of prejudgment based of personal feelings, not present evidence as do Evolutionist theory. Even with just the photo what can be seen as true is the person was of some wealth, a believer in Jerusalem after the destruction of the city be Rome. The portraits could be just as easily of a person’s mother and father, a husband and wife or son and daughter
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:06pmWith a cross??? Some how your story just doesn’t wash! Unbelievers just don’t get it!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:08pmIt says “possibly” Jesus and the Virgin Mary .. I think “perhaps” your prejudgement is showing.
Report Post »Bronx
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:17pmHey Backyard Skeptics put that up on your billboards. Oh that’s right you guys only deal in lies.
Report Post »Bakko Bomma
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:38pmHad they integrated the fertility cult into Catholicism already in 600 AD and began the mother goddess worship stuff?
600 years from now archaeologists uncover two ancient CDs – Ozzy and Madonna…
PLUTOMAXIMUS
Posted on October 30, 2711 at 2:58pm
The presumption that these two portraits represent Jesus and Mary present the same use of prejudgment based of personal feelings, not present evidence as do Evolutionist theory. Even with just the photo what can be seen as true is the person was of some wealth, a believer in NYC after the destruction of the city be China. The portraits could be just as easily of a person’s mother and father, a husband and wife or son and daughter
SPACEGIRL2694
Report Post »Posted on October 30, 2711 at 3:06pm
With a cross??? Some how your story just doesn’t wash! Unbelievers just don’t get it!
hidden_lion
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 7:37pmThis is an icon box. Orthodox christians still have them, or at a least a version of them. Little folding wooden diptychs, that are easily carried. Most art back then was for religious purposes.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:49pmLovely cross.
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:48pmtell the muslims to give us christians our land back….all of it…egypt, syria, etc…
Report Post »sicoit
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:39pmWow! :)
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:38pmHow come archeologists never find muslim relics from this far back or older? It’s always Jewish or Christian relics.
Oh… that’s right…. Muslims weren’t in Israel at that time…. they stole Israel much later in history.
Go back to Durkadurkastan you camel-raping sand monkeys.
I stand with Israel.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:43pmTell us what you really think..lol
Report Post »I;m with you though…go back where you belong. Mohammad
The46Percent2008
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:55pmAfter constant insurrection by Israel, the Romans DESTROYED Israel and in direct insult to the Jewish people, renamed Israel to PALESTINE, after the people whom gave the Giant for David to kill. It was NEVER the philistines’ land. NEVER.
Report Post »24 Liberty
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:56pmOf course muslim relics are there! They are everywhere, found every day, big rocks, little rocks, desolation, dust..that’s their contribution.
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:19pmWell said! I stand with Israel…and it’s pretty cool that little icon was found too!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 3:59pmmuslims and islam didn’t pop up near Israel until their wandering warlord mohammed the pedophile psychotic serial killer had his drug-induced tent visions ”how-to-control-your-tent-and-enemies” over 600 years AFTER Christ.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 7:41pmThats because Islam wasn’t founded until the 6th century. They did not create things, they were initially bandits that raided caravans. Some things never change? Later though, they developed quite beautiful art and architecture, which would probably get more appreciation if they would quit cutting off peoples heads and blowing up tourists.
Report Post »Sheepdog69
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:48amScrew Allah! Oh…does that offend someone? Tough crap! Bring it on!
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:36pmSooooweeeet! Love it!
Report Post »FToth84
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 2:28pmVery Cool!
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