Earliest Known Christian Church May Have Been Found

A cave in Rihab, Jordan that archaeologists have just discovered could be the oldest Christian church in the world. The cave is an underground chapel dating back to AD 33-70.

The scientists say that the cave would have functioned as both a church and a home. It is thought that the cave was used by 70 Christians that fled persecution in Jerusalem.

Before the Roman Empire embraced Christianity early believers had to practice their faith in secret are risk death. The Romans did not embrace the faith for several hundred years after the death of Christ.

The cave sits under the ancient church of St Georgeous, one of the known oldest places of Christian worship itself.

Inside of the cave there is evidence of early rituals used by those practicing the faith according to Dr Abdul Qader Al-Hassan, the director of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological studies.

The worship area is separate from the living areas. A circular area called an apse was found in the cave.

Dr Al-Hassan said: “We found beautiful things. I found the cemetery of this church; we found pottery shards and lamps with the inscription ‘Georgeous’”.

This discovery could bring forth many answers of the earliest practitioners of the Christian faith.

Water was available to those who lived below the earth’s surface by a cistern.

An inscription on the floor of the church tells of those who dwelled below.

“70 beloved by God and the divine”

The researched intend to make an excavation inside the cave to clearly date the evidence within. Prior to this discovery the earliest known church dates to the third century.

Source: By Moments In Time http://timeinmoments.wordpress.com/