A 1500 Year Old Church is Uncovered in Israel

On 2 February 2011, in the Judean hills, southwest of Jerusalem, Israeli archeologists announced the discovery of a church built about 1500 years ago.  Khirbet Madras (aka: Khirbet Midras) could be identified with the shrine of St. Zacharias found on the sixth-century Madaba Mosaic Map. “The Madaba Map (also known as the Madaba ) is part of a floor mosaic in the early Byzantine church of Saint George at Madaba, Jordan. The Madaba Map is the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem. It dates to the 6th century AD.”  From Wikipedia article, “Madaba Map.”


The Byzantine church contains a mosaic floor depicting lions, peacocks, foxes and fish.  The archeological group plans to cover the site with dirt after one week to protect it from the elements.

           
Picture of Archaeology of Israel

            thanks to Pikiwikisrael from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!      

The photograph is from http://ookaboo.com/o/pictures/picture/12619161/Columbarium_Khirbet_Midras