Latest news with #ChurchOfTheEast
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mysterious cross unearthed on island rewrites what we know about Christianity
Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,400-year-old Christian cross on a plaque at an ancient monastery on the Emirati island of Sir Bani Yas. The cross, measuring 27cm long, features regional motifs including a stepped pyramid representing Golgotha and leaves, and is larger than a previously found cross. It was likely used by monks for spiritual contemplation and shows similarities with finds from the Church of the East, which stretched across the Middle East to China. The discovery is considered an "extremely exciting find" and a rare marker of the Christian presence that flourished in the Arabian Peninsula before the monastery's abandonment in the eighth century. The find highlights the UAE's historical values of coexistence and cultural openness, with the site now part of a nature reserve and undergoing restoration.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Archaeologists discover 1,400 year old Christian cross on Abu Dhabi island
Archaeologists have uncovered a 1,400 year-old Christian cross on a plaque at an ancient monastery on the Emirati island of Sir Bani Yas. The cross incorporates regional motifs, including a stepped pyramid representing Golgotha, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, and leaves sprouting from its base. Measuring 27cm long, 17cm wide, and 2cm thick, it is larger and more detailed than a cross found in the 1990s that first identified the location as a Christian site, according to The National. It was moulded onto a plaque thought to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation and shows similarities with finds in Iraq and Kuwait and to the Church of the East. The Church of the East, which Christians formed part of, stretched from the Middle East to China. Christianity is thought to have spread and later declined in the Arabian Peninsula between the fourth and sixth centuries, with Islam and Christianity co-existing until the monastery's abandonment in the eighth century. 'We had settlements of Christians that were not just existing but were clearly flourishing,' lead archaeologist Maria Gajewska told The National. 'This was just lying there telling us, yes, they were Christian.' The 'extremely exciting find' is a rare marker of who lived there, Ms Gajewska added. The discovery comes during the first major excavation on the island in more than 30 years. The seventh-to eighth-century monastery was first discovered in 1992, revealing a church and monastic complex. Theories vary on its use, from housing senior monks to serving as a retreat for wealthy Christians seeking seclusion and prayer by lamplight. Archaeologists are now exploring nearby courtyard houses to better understand the lives of early Christian monks on the island. 'The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness," Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi department, said. 'It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history.' Sir Bani Yas, about 170km south-west of Abu Dhabi, forms part of a network of contemporaneous churches and monasteries across the Gulf, including sites in Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Today, the monastery and church sit within a nature reserve, home to gazelles and hyrax, offering a glimpse into Abu Dhabi's ancient past. Restoration efforts in 2019 introduced protective shelters, visitor signage, and a small exhibition featuring artefacts such as glass chalices and a scorpion-stamped seal.
Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Ancient Christian cross unearthed on Abu Dhabi's Sir Bani Yas Island
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced the discovery of an ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island, marking the first major excavation on the site in more than 30 years. The find was made during a fieldwork campaign launched in January 2025 and is believed to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation. The cross, moulded on a stucco plaque, shows stylistic similarities with objects discovered in Iraq and Kuwait, linking it to the Church of the East, which traces its origins to ancient Iraq. Ancient Christian cross found in Abu Dhabi DCT Abu Dhabi said the discovery reinforces the UAE's long-standing traditions of peace and tolerance. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: 'The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness. 'It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history. 'The ongoing discoveries from Sir Bani Yas Island, even after 30 years of research and excavation, underscore the magnitude of our cultural legacy and the importance of our continued commitment to its preservation and understanding. 'As DCT Abu Dhabi continues to uncover these valuable stories, we reaffirm our dedication to preserving, promoting, and protecting Abu Dhabi's diverse heritage, one that we are honoured to share with the world.' History unearthed by the DCT Abu Dhabi team! An ancient cross from a 7th-8th century monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island, our first major dig in 30 years. This discovery highlights the UAE's legacy of peaceful co-existence. — Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (@dctabudhabi) August 19, 2025 Sir Bani Yas Island The Sir Bani Yas monastery was originally discovered in 1992 by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS). Dating to the seventh–eighth centuries CE, it is part of a wider network of churches and monasteries across the region, with parallels found in: Umm Al Quwain Kuwait Iran Saudi Arabia Archaeologists have uncovered a church, a monastic complex and evidence of courtyard houses, interpreted as spaces where senior monks lived in retreat and seclusion. Christianity flourished in the Arabian Peninsula between the fourth and sixth centuries CE before declining; by the eighth century CE the Sir Bani Yas monastery was peacefully abandoned. Today, the church and monastery lie within a protected nature reserve, home to gazelles and hyrax, and serve as a reminder of Abu Dhabi's diverse cultural past. As part of DCT Abu Dhabi's restoration works in 2019, the monastery and church were protected with shelters and reopened to the public. The site now features upgraded facilities including directional signage and a small exhibition of artefacts from previous excavations, such as glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco and a scorpion seal. A multi-faith church, inspired by the ancient monastery, has also been constructed adjacent to the visitor centre. Looking ahead, DCT Abu Dhabi plans to continue excavations of nearby courtyard houses, which may be integrated into a wider visitor trail connecting Sir Bani Yas Island's cultural heritage landmarks.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Ancient cross discovered in monastery site on Sir Bani Yas island
A team of archeologists has made an exciting new discovery at the site of an ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on Tuesday announced the discovery of a cross moulded on a stucco plaque from the monastery. This find comes during the first major excavation on the island in more than 30 years. In January 2025, DCT Abu Dhabi launched a new fieldwork campaign on Sir Bani Yas Island, leading to the discovery of the cross. The object is believed to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation. The style of the cross shows similarities with finds from Iraq and Kuwait, and is linked to the Church of the East, which has origins in ancient Iraq. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, 'The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness." "It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history," he added. Monastic complex The seventh-to eighth-century CE Christian monastery was first discovered on Sir Bani Yas Island in 1992 by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (Adias), under the direction of the UAE's leadership. Excavations since then have uncovered a church and a monastic complex occupied at the same time as the monastery. They are currently interpreted as separate spaces, where senior monks retreated for periods of contemplation and ascetic seclusion. Archaeologists are currently researching and exploring a group of courtyard houses near the monastery, where early Christian monks lived in retreat. Christianity in the region Sir Bani Yas is part of a wider group of churches and monasteries that emerged across the region around the same period, with similar sites found in Umm Al Quwain, Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Christianity spread and declined across the Arabian Peninsula between the fourth and sixth centuries CE. Christians and Muslims later co-existed until the eighth century CE, when the Sir Bani Yas monastery was peacefully abandoned. Today, the church and the monastery, set within nature reserves home to gazelles and hyrax, serve as a reminder of Abu Dhabi's ancient past. As part of restoration efforts carried out by DCT Abu Dhabi in 2019, the church and monastery are now protected by shelters. The Sir Bani Yas church and monastery site has reopened to the public with improved facilities, including directional signage and a small exhibition of artefacts from previous excavations, such as glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco, and a stamp seal with a scorpion motif. A multi-faith church, inspired by the ancient site, has also been built adjacent to the visitor centre. DCT Abu Dhabi will continue excavating the courtyard houses in the coming years, which may be integrated into a wider visitor trail connecting the island's cultural landmarks.
