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A mosaic from the excavation on the grounds of Megiddo prison. (BauBau) Last update - 10:49 07/11/2005 Prison dig reveals church that may be the oldest in the world By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent, and AP A mosaic and the remains of a building uncovered recently in excavations on the Megiddo prison grounds may belong to the earliest church in the world, according to a preliminary examination by the Israel Antiquities Authority. One of the most dramatic finds suggests that, instead of an altar, a simple table stood in the center of the church, at which a sacred meal was held to commemorate the Last Supper. Photographs of three Greek inscriptions in the mosaic were sent to Hebrew University expert Professor Leah Di Segni, who told Haaretz on Sunday that the use of the term "table" in one of them instead of the word "altar" might lead to a breakthrough in the study of ancient Christianity. It is commonly believed that church rituals based on the Last Supper took place around an altar. Advertisement The excavation was begun prior to the issuing of building permits for a new wing of the Megiddo prison, which houses security prisoners. Some 60 inmates from the Megiddo and Tzalmon prisons took part in the excavation. The site is close to Tel Megiddo, believed to be Armageddon of the New Testament book of Revelation. The northern inscription mentions a Roman army officer who donated the money to build the floor. The eastern inscription commemorates four women, and the western inscription mentions a woman by the name of Ekeptos, who "donated this table to the God Jesus Christ in commemoration." The mosaic also contains geometric patterns and a medallion with a fish design. "I was told these were Byzantine," Di Segni said, "but they seem much earlier than anything I have seen so far from the Byzantine period. It could be from the third or the beginning of the fourth century." A pottery vessel discovered at the site confirms Di Segni's dating, however she said the church's age can only be determined with certainty after excavators reach the level below the floor. "The problem is that in Israel we have no mosaic inscriptions from this period, and they will have to be compared with inscriptions from Antioch or Rome," she said. Christian rituals were prohibited in the Roman Empire prior to the year 313 CE, and Christians had to pray in secret in catacombs or private homes. The earliest churches, dating from around 330 CE, are the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the Nativity in Bethlehem, and Alonei Mamre near Hebron. However, they contain only scant remains of the original structures, which were built by Emperor Constantine I. The structure discovered at the Megiddo prison is a simple rectangular one lacking the later characteristics of churches, such as an apse facing east. "I don't know if this structure can even be called a church," Di Sengi said. Other discoveries at the prison include dwellings from the Roman times and a ritual bath, which was sealed and built on top of during the Byzantine period, bearing out historical information about a Jewish site in this area, Kfar Othnai, which became a Christian site in the Byzantine period. The excavation was directed by Yotan Tepper of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson said the discovery could greatly increase tourism to Israel. "If we nurture this properly, then certainly there will be a large stream of tourists who could come to Israel. There is great potential and together with the evangelical center in the north could bring great strides in tourism," he told Channel Two Bookmark to del.icio.us   My three homelands French Vogue chose Lizzie Doron as one of Israel's influential authors. President Barghouti Jailed Tanzim leader says he's considering running in next PA presidential elections.   1.   Would generate tourism 00:01  |  Yoav 06/11/05   2.   "Archaeologists may have found the oldest Church" 04:36  |  Dr Anthony Ganendran 06/11/05   3.   Christians visit now 04:51  |  dev 06/11/05   4.   It`s a prison, not a destination. 05:40  |  idf_sergeant 06/11/05   5.   Oldest Church 06:48  |  laura Peterson 06/11/05   6.   4 women - answer for no. 2 07:16  |  Dr Beeri 06/11/05   7.   Betlehem 08:57  |  Pablo 06/11/05   8.   Tourism 09:35  |  Mart 06/11/05   9.   the site is interesting of and in itself irrespective of tourists 09:47  |  fagin 06/11/05   10.   fascinating and ironic 10:10  |  Dror 06/11/05   11.   Welcome to hell. 10:23  |  Frank Alioni 06/11/05   12.   just thinking about money 10:38  |  ray 06/11/05   13.   Frank @ 10 11:24  |  Chanah 06/11/05   14.   ALIONI Re Welcome to hell The USA sends terrorists to ARAB countries for torture. 11:34  |  Peter S.M. 06/11/05   15.   lies, lies, lies, lies 11:56  |  Orthodox girl 06/11/05   16.   Oldest Church 12:50  |  Tony Price 06/11/05   17.   #3/Dev: Christian`s visit now.. 12:57  |  Nehama 06/11/05   18.   #8/tourism 13:06  |  Nehama 06/11/05   19.   I guess Palestinian Christians can have right of return now! 13:10  |  Joe 06/11/05   20.   Dorothea 13:32  |  Mikhael 06/11/05   21.   Orthodox girl, what would Jesus say? 13:37  |  Tulip 06/11/05   22.   Joe from Ramallah, these christians were Jewish 13:41  |  Tulip 06/11/05   23.   #19 Joe 13:49  |  Bobby 06/11/05   24.   #16/Oldest church/tony 13:57  |  Nehama 06/11/05   25.   I guess....#19 14:03  |  Nehama 06/11/05   26.   Tulip, I hate Israel for the same reason Jesus hated them 14:26  |  Orthodox Girl 06/11/05   27.   This is a big evidence that this is a Palestinian state 14:56  |  Gaza Boy 06/11/05   28.   Tulip Hello 15:37  |  Danite 06/11/05   29.   Joe 15:43  |  Danite 06/11/05   30.   1000 years before the Arabs arrived 15:54  |  JJ Doyle 06/11/05   31.   Danite 16:03  |  Tulip 06/11/05   32.   mikvah 16:09  |  Ross 06/11/05   33.   Much islamic territory was stolen from Christians. 16:12  |  Tulip 06/11/05   34.   Orthodox girl on Jesus 16:18  |  Tulip 06/11/05   35.   Gaza Boy #27, Great point!! It probably wasnt all Jewish as they claim! 16:35  |  Realistic 06/11/05   36.   Zionists are really against Islam & Christianity in all forms 16:48  |  Realistic 06/11/05   37.   Latest Haaretz Poll: 73% of Readers agree with JDL`s Foxman; Dont want a Christian America 16:50  |  Realistic 06/11/05   38.   Good News 16:53  |  Scrolls 06/11/05   39.   #8 Mart of Haifa (in Israel I presume) 16:53  |  Man deVoshkes 06/11/05   40.   Pablo #7, You cant have tourism with israeli idf terrorism 16:58  |  Realistic 06/11/05   41.   Realistic being unrealistic again 17:01  |  Tulip 06/11/05   42.   REALISTIC.Cair Policy is to Islamise the USA--- 17:15  |  Peter S.M. 06/11/05   43.   Relistic .Sharia is kinda scary. 17:24  |  Ezreal 06/11/05   44.   Realistic What are you talking about? 17:25  |  Danite 06/11/05   45.   I couldn´t agree with you more, Scrolls 17:29  |  Tulip 06/11/05   46.   Mikvah 17:40  |  ENS 06/11/05   47.   to the hate monger realistic 17:45  |  G-d lover 06/11/05   48.   As palestinian christian, Israel will continue violating my rights 18:02  |  George 06/11/05   49.   Hi Tulip. Orthodox?? 18:04  |  Ezreal 06/11/05   50.   Hello Tulip 18:22  |  Danite 06/11/05   51.   dev: Christians visit now 18:27  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   52.   Ezreal 18:27  |  Tulip 06/11/05   53.   idf_sergeant 18:28  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   54.   Orthodox is Khalid 18:29  |  Danite 06/11/05   55.   Danite 18:36  |  Tulip 06/11/05   56.   Tulip 18:48  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   57.   Are we on the same page? 18:48  |  Dan 06/11/05   58.   Peter sm @ 14 18:50  |  potobac 06/11/05   59.   Joe, another one witb delirium tremens 18:55  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   60.   Kim on the crusade in spain 19:15  |  Tulip 06/11/05   61.   Kim and Tulip 19:26  |  Danite 06/11/05   62.   Joe Distorts History 19:42  |  Semsem 06/11/05   63.   Danite and Kim 19:43  |  Tulip 06/11/05   64.   Hi Joe, Khallid, AKA the rest of you 19:54  |  Delta 06/11/05   65.   Silly Arguments 20:07  |  Fli` Ah-garic 06/11/05   66.   not a Jewish Homeland? nonsense 20:15  |  l.a. 06/11/05   67.   Tulip 21:02  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   68.   Danite 21:04  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   69.   Danite 21:11  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   70.   Tulip and Danite 21:14  |  Kim: UP THE WALL 06/11/05   71.   Orthodox Girl / Realistic / Khalid 21:20  |  Gina 06/11/05   72.   to beguile Christian tourists? 21:20  |  raphael