Relics of Byzantine church discovered by construction workers in Gaza
Construction workers in Gaza unexpectedly discovered what is believed to be remnants of a Byzantine church. However, Christians in the Palestinian region are not happy with the way the archaeological find has been treated.
According to Reuters, 15 ancient relics were found thus far, including a 35-inch foundation stone that has the Greek symbol for Christ. There are also parts of a marble pillar, one about three yards long, that bear Corinthian capitals.
"Our first thought is that the site is a cathedral or a church from the Byzantine period," Jamal Abu Rida, the general director of the antiquities ministry, told Reuters. "During that era, there was a great interest among the Byzantine rulers to build churches in the Gaza Strip."
Abu Rida thinks that the structure from which the relics came might have stood some time between AD 395 and the late 600s. During the time, diverse people visited and/or lived in Gaza, given that it was a rather rich seaport. Many churches were built from the early 5th century following the destruction of pagan temples in the late 4th century, but in the years following AD 637, many Christians converted to Islam, thus many churches were no longer used.
The workers stumbled upon the relics on Saturday, April 2, at the Palestine Square while excavating the ground for an upcoming shopping center. But while Abu Rida said that the construction might need to be halted, Reuters reported that as of Monday, work continued. There was a digger and bulldozer, and it seems like no particular care was taken to try to preserve the site.
The Jerusalem Post reported that on Wednesday, Palestinian Christians expressed their disappointment at how the archeological site has been handled. Apparently, they are pointing a finger at the Palestinian Authority as well as Hamas, accusing them of trying to remove the identity and history of Christians in the region.
The report says that Father Ibrahim Nairouz of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem wrote a letter to PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Minister of Antiquities and Tourism Rula Maa'yaa, saying that Christian legacy is being targeted in the region.
"They used bulldozers to remove the antiquities and no one ordered a freeze of the construction work at this important archeological site," the priest said, as quoted by publication. "Had they found the remains of a mosque or synagogue or any other ancient structure, would they have dealt with them in the same manner? Or are they doing this because it's an ancient church?"
Social media became the venue for Palestinian Christians to show support for the priest.
