Funnet av det som kan være en av de eldste kirkelignende bygninger i historien, ble gjort i Meggido i Israel, ikke langt fra Apokalypsens Armageddon. Trolig stammer villaen med de kristne inskripsjonene fra det 3. århundre. Dvs. fra 200-300. Dette var en tid da kristendommen var ny og ennå ikke akseptert. Det var fremdeles perioder med forfølgelser.

Arkeologen som leder utgravingene er Yotam Tepper:

Tepper said the most important evidence comes from three inscriptions found in the mosaics. Along the edge of the largest mosaic, featuring at its center the early Christian symbol of two fish, an ancient Greek inscription, roughly translated, reads: «Gaianos, also called Porphyrio, centurion, our brother, having sought honor with his own money, has made this mosaic. Brouti has carried out the work.» Tepper said the inscription refers to a Roman officer — many officers were early converts to Christianity — who financed the structure’s construction.

An inscription on a second mosaic, closer to the base of a pedestal whose use archaeologists have not determined, recalls by name four women from the community.

Tepper said the third inscription is the most archaeologically valuable. It reads: «The God-loving Aketous has offered this table to the God Jesus Christ, as a memorial.»

washington post

På en dag da den nye bibeloversettelsen ble omtalt, var disse linjene fra urkirken spesielle.