Archaeologists Discover Early Byzantine Church In Israeli City

Aug 9, 2007, 13:14 GMT

Jerusalem - Israeli archaeologists working in the northern city of Tiberias have uncovered the remains of an ancient Byzantine church paved with mosaics decorated with geometric patterns and dedicatory inscriptions, the Antiquities Authority confirmed Thursday.

One of the inscriptions contains the text, 'Our Lord (Jesus) protect the soul of your servant. ..' which the Authority said the appears to refute the claim that Jews of Tiberias prevented early Christians from establishing a church in their city.

FULL STORY at
http://science.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1340966.php/Archaeologists_discover_early_Byzantine_church_in_Israeli_city
 
Surprising Finds were Discovered in the IAA Excavations in Tiberias (7/8/2007)
(This article shows pictures of some of the mosaics found.)
 
One of the mosaics is adorned with a medallion in which there is a large cross flanked by the letters alpha and omega, which are one of the monograms for Jesus (alpha to omega meaning from A to Z in Greek).
 
http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=1270&module_id=#as