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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Religious history 'rewritten' with 'greatest discovery since Dead Sea Scrolls'
The Megiddo Mosaic, discovered by an inmate at Megiddo prison in northern Israel, has been hailed as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls" by experts An ancient inscription hailed as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls" has been uncovered beneath an Israeli prison floor, naming it the earliest known testament of Jesus as God. A prisoner chanced upon the 1,800 year old mosaic at Megiddo jail featuring the Greek inscription: "The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial." Believed to be part of the world's inaugural prayer hall from around 230 AD, this 581-square-foot mosaic provides irrefutable evidence of the early Christian belief in Jesus as the son of God. Dubbed the Megiddo Mosaic, the artefact also showcases some of the most primitive artistic depictions of fish, hinting to biblical teachings like the one in Luke 9:16 where Jesus miraculously multiplies two fish to feed thousands. Concealed under Megiddo prison since its initial unveiling in 2005, the historic floor has presently been lent to an exhibition in Washington DC, only until the following month, reports the Mirror US. Carlos Campo, CEO of the showcasing museum, extolled the mosaic as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls," adding that colleagues believe it to be "the most important archaeological discovery for understanding the early Christian church." During the exhibit launch, Campo said: "We truly are among the first people to ever see this, to experience what almost 2,000 years ago was put together by a man named Brutius, the incredible craftsman who laid the flooring here." The Megiddo Mosaic is temporarily on view at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC until its return date in July 2025. Alegre Savariego, the exhibition's curator, said: "The mosaic presents groundbreaking physical evidence of the practices and beliefs of early Christians, including the first archaeological instance of the phrase, 'God Jesus Christ.'". Discovered in the Jezreel Valley, an area steeped in Christian lore as the site for the apocalyptic battle of Armageddon, the Megiddo Mosaic has caused a stir among historians and theologians alike. The four-year dig by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) unearthed the 581-square-foot mosaic floor, which intriguingly includes the name of the Roman officer who commissioned it during Judea's occupation. The find has sparked discussions about a potential period of coexistence between Romans and Christians, challenging the traditional narrative of constant conflict. An inscription on the mosaic reads: "Gaianus, a Roman officer, having sought honor, from his own money, has made the mosaic." Adding to the evidence of a harmonious relationship is the discovery of a nearby Roman encampment. The prayer hall or church was likely hidden away when the Roman Empire's Sixth Legion moved to Transjordan, suggesting a complex interplay of cultures and faiths in the region. The mosaic, which features the names of five women – Akeptous, Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, and Chreste – whose significance remains a mystery, has been hailed as one of the most significant archaeological findings in comprehending the ancient Christian church. Bobby Duke, the Museum of the Bible's Scholars Initiative director, said: "This is arguably one of the most important archaeological discoveries for understanding the early Christian church." The artefact includes some of the oldest images of fish representing Christianity, mirroring the story in Luke 9:16 of Jesus feeding 5,000 with just two fish. Duke explained the importance of the discovery further: "For example, the mosaic underscores the crucial role of women in the early church by the fact that five women are mentioned in it by name,". The museum's expert compared the find to the historic impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on biblical scholarship: "Truly, the mosaic presents a wealth of new data for church historians, like the Dead Sea Scrolls did for Bible scholars." The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) noted the peculiar nature of this request for remembrance of individuals, particularly since it is rare for God to be asked to remember specific people. The IAA elaborated on the significance of the women featured saying, "While they were clearly important to the community, the inscription does not tell us whether they were patrons of the community (like Akeptous), or martyrs, or honored for some other reason." After unearthing a significant find, the IAA meticulously cleaned and preserved the mosaic. The floor was then delicately dismantled, with pieces stored in 11 crates that were shipped off to the US earlier this year for an exhibition titled 'The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith'. "You couldn't just lift the whole floor up," Duke said. "So ... they very intricately cut different pieces of the mosaic so that they didn't destroy any of the artwork. So, not all the pieces were the same size. So, even one of the crates that came into this gallery was about a thousand pounds." Once the exhibit is over, the Megiddo mosaic will be returned to Israel for a permanent display at its original discovery site. When the mosaic is repatriated, the inmates at Megiddo will be moved to a different prison. Additionally, the museum had to own up to the fact that several supposed Dead Sea Scroll fragments within their collection were actually recent frauds. "While some of the founders and actions of the museum are questionable, and the museum clearly has a very ideological agenda, I don't think a 'purist' agenda is very helpful here," stated Prof. Aren Maeir from Bar-Ilan University in a discussion with "As long as everything is done by the letter of the law, I see no problem."
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Greatest religious discovery since Dead Sea Scrolls' rewrites religious history
An ancient inscription unearthed beneath an Israeli prison floor is creating waves, being dubbed "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls" and as the earliest known proclamation of Jesus as divine. The mosaic, which dates back 1,800 years and was found by a jailbird at Megiddo prison, features the Greek inscription: "The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial." This colossal 581-square-foot artwork was part of the globe's oldest prayer hall around 230 AD, cementing the fact that early Christians recognised Jesus as the son of God. The stunning Megiddo Mosaic also showcases some of the first imagery of fish, with scholars suggesting it refers to the New Testament tale where Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 with two fish. Although initially discovered back in 2005, the mosaic had been hidden under the penitentiary floors until recently; it's currently on loan to a Washington DC museum until next month. As Carlos Campo, head honcho of the museum, hailed the find as "the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls," his fellow experts claimed it to be "the most important archaeological find for understanding early Christianity.", reports the Mirror US. "We truly are among the first people to ever see this, to experience what almost 2,000 years ago was put together by a man named Brutius, the incredible craftsman who laid the flooring here," remarked Campo at the exhibit's launch. For the time being, the Megiddo Mosaic takes pride of place at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, up until July 2025. Alegre Savariego, the exhibition's curator, said: "The mosaic presents groundbreaking physical evidence of the practices and beliefs of early Christians, including the first archaeological instance of the phrase, 'God Jesus Christ.'". The Megiddo Mosaic came to light in the historically significant Jezreel Valley, believed by Christians as the site where the apocalyptic battle of Armageddon described in the Book of Revelations will unfold. After four years of digs, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) revealed a 581-square-foot mosaic flooring. The remarkable aspect of this mosaic is that it carries the name of the Roman officer who commissioned it during the time Judea was under Roman rule. The find has prompted scholars to propose the possibility of some level of peaceful coexistence between Romans and Christians, which goes against the common narrative of conflict and turmoil of the era. The mosaic contains an inscription that reads: "Gaianus, a Roman officer, having sought honor, from his own money, has made the mosaic." Bolstering this notion of potential harmony, excavators found a Roman encampment in close proximity. It appears that the place of worship, or church, was deserted and hidden as a result of the relocation of the Roman Empire's Sixth Legion to the region modern-day known as Transjordan, to the east of the Jordan River. In addition to Akeptous, who was acknowledged for her gift of a table to the prayer hall, the mosaic's inscription also requests remembrance for four other women: Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, and Chreste. However, the identity of these women remains a mystery. Bobby Duke, director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible, highlighted the significance of the discovery, stating, "This is arguably one of the most important archaeological discoveries for understanding the early Christian church." The mosaic features some of the earliest known depictions of fish as a symbol of Christianity, echoing the biblical account in Luke 9:16, where Jesus multiplied two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000 people. Duke further said: "For example, the mosaic underscores the crucial role of women in the early church by the fact that five women are mentioned in it by name." He added: "Truly, the mosaic presents a wealth of new data for church historians, like the Dead Sea Scrolls did for Bible scholars." The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) pointed out that there is no information available to explain why these women were singled out, which is unusual since it was not common for individuals to be specifically remembered by God. "While they were clearly important to the community, the inscription does not tell us whether they were patrons of the community (like Akeptous), or martyrs, or honored for some other reason." Following the significant archaeological find, the IAA meticulously cleaned and restored the mosaic. The floor was then carefully disassembled into 11 crates that were shipped to the US earlier this year for an exhibition titled The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith. "You couldn't just lift the whole floor up," Duke clarified. "So ... they very intricately cut different pieces of the mosaic so that they didn't destroy any of the artwork. So, not all the pieces were the same size. So, even one of the crates that came into this gallery was about a thousand pounds." Once the exhibition concludes, the Megiddo mosaic will be returned to Israel and displayed permanently at the exact location where it was unearthed. Upon the mosaic's return, the inmates at Megiddo will be moved to another prison. The museum also had to admit that several of the Dead Sea Scroll fragments displayed in its collection were modern fakes. "While some of the founders and actions of the museum are questionable, and the museum clearly has a very ideological agenda, I don't think a 'purist' agenda is very helpful here," Prof. Aren Maeir, an archaeologist at Bar-Ilan University, told "As long as everything is done by the letter of the law, I see no problem. ".
USA Today
19-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
When does Lent end? 40-day season of prayer, fasting and giving concludes this week
When does Lent end? 40-day season of prayer, fasting and giving concludes this week After six Fridays of not eating meat, Christians observing Lent are nearly at the finish line. The 40-day season of prayer comes to an end this week just ahead of the Easter holiday. The period has been practiced every spring for thousands of years to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. The tradition dates as far back as 601 AD, when 64th leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Gregory cemented the Lent as permanent tradition, according to the Museum of the Bible. At this time, Lent lasted 46 days consisting of 40 days of fasting where only one meal and no meat was allowed, with the exception of six Sundays considered "feast days." To this day, the tradition is practiced by Christians and Catholics across the world. Additionally some people choose to give up certain foods or behaviors throughout the duration. Here's what to know about the end of Lent. When did Lent begin? This year, Lent began on Wednesday, March 5. The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday. When does Lent end? Lent ends on Thursday, April 17 this year. What is the last day of Lent called? The final day of Lent is also known as Holy Thursday. Why is Lent 40 days? Lent's 40 days represents the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before starting his public ministry. Why does Lent involve fasting? Fasting during Lent represents the fasting Jesus did while in the desert. "Abstinence is a form of penance. Penance expresses sorrow and contrition for our wrongdoing, indicates our intention to turn away from sin and turn back to God," the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis shared on its website. What does the ash cross smudged on worshipers' forehead mean? During Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on a worshiper's forehead in the shape of the cross. This represents that a person belongs to Jesus Christ and that a person is grieving and morning for their sins. Why do worshipers abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent? During Lent, some worshipers abstain from eating flesh meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and each Friday. Worshipers abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent to honor Jesus sacrificing his flesh on Good Friday, according to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis. Flesh meat includes beef, pork, chicken and turkey. Fish are not considered flesh meat. Non-flesh products, like milk, cheese, butter and eggs, are not prohibited during Lent. Contributing: Dwight Adams and Aaron A. Bedoya, El Paso Times, John Bacon, USA TODAY
Fox News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Rare letter reveals 'profound' Christian faith of former atheist at the Museum of the Bible
Washington, DC – The Museum of the Bible (MOTB) in the nation's capital has opened an exhibit giving visitors a deeper understanding of humankind's journey of seeking truth. Titled "C. S. Lewis and the Myth That Became Fact," the exhibit showcases the British writer and theologian's journey from atheism to Christianity. The exhibit includes a rare letter penned by Lewis himself to a correspondent named Mr. Rooke. "Letter to Mr. Rooke" was dated Dec. 8, 1937, several years after Lewis converted to Christianity. Wesley Viner, associate curator at the museum, told Fox News Digital the letter is part of an ongoing correspondence about the nature of poetry, knowledge and Christianity. "In this particular letter, Lewis describes the vision possessed by certain poets as 'knowledge in the deepest sense,' but he rejects the idea that poetry must focus exclusively on 'great subjects' like truth, faith or God," said Viner. Viner added, "Instead, he humorously notes that some of humanity's greatest poetry is concerned with ostensibly mundane and trivial topics, like 'men sticking bits of pointed metal into each other in a quarrel.'" The exhibit brings together worshipers of all ages, museum leaders said. "The great revelation of poetry, Lewis argues, is that 'there are no trivial nor uninteresting things,'" Viner said. Also included in the exhibit are first and rare editions of Lewis's work. Carlos Campo, CEO of the MOTB, told Fox News Digital the exhibit brings together worshipers of all ages. "Many of us, people from my generation, really came to know the Lord through books like 'Mere Christianity' and understanding C. S. Lewis. Then we gave our kids and grandkids 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,' and then suddenly they came to know him as well," said Campo. The portal fantasy novel was published in 1990. It was turned into a film in 2005. "You can see the hard apologist that he was. He really was a man who had no faith and then came to faith but [was] erudite," said Campo. He said Lewis was "someone who knew as much about John Milton as he did about the Bible and yet became a real standard-bearer for the Christian faith." To celebrate Lewis, the museum will be presenting Lewis's Narnia works, showcasing "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in its World Stage Theater. The "C. S. Lewis and the Myth That Became Fact" exhibit runs until Feb. 14, 2026.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why do people wear ashes on their foreheads for Ash Wednesday? Everything to know
You may find people with ash marks on their foreheads Wednesday. Ash Wednesday falls on March 5 this year, marking the start of Lent, when those who practice Christianity begin observing the 40-day season of prayer, fasting and giving. The period is held each spring as a preparation for Easter Sunday, when Christians recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The special Wednesday occasion is considered one of the "most popular and important holy days" of the Christian faith, especially for the Catholic denomination, USA TODAY reports. But what is Ash Wednesday, and why do Catholics celebrate it? What is Lent? Here's everything to know. Ash Wednesday – also known as the Day of Ashes – is a day of repentance and fasting, when Christians, especially Catholics, confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. For Roman Catholics specifically, Ash Wednesday is the start of the 46-day season of Lent, which is the period leading up to Easter. During Ash Wednesday, some churches mark the foreheads of worshipers with ashes in the shape of a cross. The ashes, made from palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday service, are applied to a parishioner's forehead by a priest who says, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes represent penance, someone acknowledging and showing remorse for their sins. This tradition dates back to 1901, per USA TODAY. According to the Museum of the Bible, Pope Gregory, the 64th leader of the Catholic Church, was the one to establish the tradition of marking the foreheads with ashes. Although it isn't required, many people typically leave the ash cross on for the rest of the day. Lent is the 46-day liturgical season that precedes the holiday of Easter, which commemorates the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The season, including Ash Wednesday, is a time for penance, charity and fasting for many Christians, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Lent also represents the 40 days Jesus wandered the desert praying and fasting after he was baptized. Despite Jesus' 40-day journey, Lent lasts 46 days. Sundays during Lent are not "prescribed days" of fasting and abstinence, so those don't count. USA TODAY adds that during Lent, Catholics and Christians give up something they enjoy or something they feel like they should stop. Many Catholics also abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. Lent ends Thursday, April 17, this year, also called Holy Thursday. Catholics are not supposed to eat meat on Ash Wednesday or Fridays during Lent. However, children and elderly people are usually exempt from fasting and giving up meat. Lent culminates with Easter Sunday, which will be observed on April 20, 2025. The date is different every year and falls on the first Sunday of the first full moon after the vernal equinox, also called the Paschal Full Moon. The Eastern Orthodox Church follows a Julian calendar instead of the typical Gregorian, so Easter is celebrated on a different date during some years. However, the occasion on the Julian calendar happens to also fall on Sunday, April 20, this year. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ash Wednesday: Why do people wear ashes on their foreheads?
