Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered intricate mosaics on the floor of a 1,500-year-old Byzantine church, including one that bears a Christogram surrounded by birds.

The ruins were discovered during a salvage excavation ahead of a construction project in Aluma, a village about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Tel Aviv, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Wednesday (Jan. 22). Excavator Davida Eisenberg Degen said the team used an industrial digger to probe a mound at the site, and through a 10-foot (3 meters) hole, they could see the white tiles of an ancient mosaic.

Much of the church was revealed during excavations over the past month. The basilica was part of a local Byzantine settlement, but the archaeologists suspect it also served as a center of Christian worship for neighboring communities because it was next to the main road running between the ancient seaport city of Ashkelon in the west and Beit Guvrin and Jerusalem in the east. [See Images of a Byzantine Mosaic Discovered in Israel]

"Usually a Byzantine village had a church, but the size of this church and its placement on the road makes it more important," Degen told LiveScience.

Remarkable finds

The excavators plan to keep working on the site for another week, but one of the most remarkable finds so far was a mosaic containing a Christogram, or a "type of monogram of the name of Jesus," Degen said.

At the time, Byzantine Christians wouldn't have put crosses on their mosaic floors so as to not step on the symbol of Christ, Degen explained.

The Christogram in the mosaic may look like a cross, but it's actually more like a "chi rho" symbol, which puts together the first two captial letters in the Greek word for Christ, and often looks like an X superimposed on a P.

There is an alpha and omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) on either side of the chi rho, which is another Christian symbol, as Christ was often described as the ""the beginning and the end."

Four birds also decorate the mosaic, and two of them are holding up a wreath to the top of the chi rho.

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Symbol of Jesus Graced Ancient Church Mosaic in Israel

Cosmic Log

Alan Boyle, Science Editor NBC News

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Jim Hollander / EPA

Davida Eisenberg-Degen, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows Greek letters and a decorated "Christogram" that are part of a mosaic from a Byzantine-era church uncovered in Moshav Aluma, Israel. Stylized birds appear to be lifting the cross from the floor.

A 1,500-year-old mosaic floor with colorful images of animals, botanical and geometrical designs has been brought to light during the excavation of a Byzantine-era Christian church in southern Israel.

"The church probably served as a center of Christian worship for the neighboring communities," the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a news release about the find, issued Wednesday. The floor and other remains of the basilica were found over the past three months during preparations for the construction of a new neighborhood at Moshav Aluma, the agency said.

The church was part of a major Byzantine settlement located next to the main road running between Ashkelon on Israel's Mediterranean coast and Jerusalem to the east. Previous excavations along the road had found traces of other communities from the same period, but no churches.

The mosaic that was in the church's main hall features 40 decorative medallions. Some of the medallions depict animals including a zebra, a leopard, a turtle, a wild boar and various types of birds. Three medallions contain Greek inscriptions that commemorate two church leaders named Demetrios and Herakles.

Archaeologist Daniel Varga said another mosaic features "a 12-row dedicatory inscription in Greek containing the names Mary and Jesus, and the name of the person who funded the mosaic's construction." Inside a pottery workshop, archaeologists found jars, cooking pots, bowls and oil lamps.

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Marvelous mosaics revealed inside 1,500-year-old church in Israel

A 1,500-year-old church complete with a sophisticated mosaic was uncovered by archaeologists in southern Israel.

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) say the Byzantine-era structure "probably served as a center of Christian worship for neighboring communities."

The discovery was made during a routine salvage excavation conducted by the IAA prior to the construction of a new neighborhood in the area.

The building is approximately 72 feet long by 40 feet wide and consists of a central hall with two side aisles divided by marble pillars. An open courtyard at the front of the structure is paved with a white mosaic floor and a cistern.

Directly off of the courtyard is a rectangular hall with another more intricate mosaic floor with colored geometric designs.

Including among the finds are five inscriptions, one of which mentions Mary and Jesus.

"At its center, opposite the entrance to the main hall, is a twelve-row dedicatory inscription in Greek containing the names Mary and Jesus, and the name of the person who funded the mosaic's construction," archaeologist Daniel Varga said in a press release.

The main hall has a mosaic with depictions of a variety of animals including zebra, leopard, turtle and wild boar. The designs also include Christian symbols.

Archaeologists also discovered glass vessels, oil lamps, amphorae, cooking pots, kraters, and bowls. These finds "indicate a rich and flourishing local culture" during the Byzantine period.

In order to preserve the site, it will be covered with dirt and the IAA is making plans to remove the mosaic floors to be put on display.

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Byzantine church uncovered

A bible from the 1800s and anti-liquor pamphlets were among the contents of a time capsule found in Berkeley last week. Photo: Leonard Nielson

A time capsule discovered last week during the demolition of a Berkeley community church included a carefully wrapped 1875 family bible from one of the churchs founding members, newspaper articles about the church groundbreaking in 1948, and several other related records, such as a church history and roster, published sermons related to the founding pastor, and an architectural flier about the building. Several pro-temperance fliers written by the pastor, seemingly in support of an election coming up around the time of the churchs construction, were also among the contents.

Pastor Leonard Nielson, of the San FranciscoPresbytery which is based in Berkeley, oversees about 77 Bay Area churches, and was the former property owner of the church opened the time capsule Monday after it was given to him by developer William Schrader Jr. Schrader is constructing a new apartment building on the site ofSt. Pauls Church, at2024 Durant Ave., where the time capsule was discovered by construction workers last week.

Schrader has plans to put the box, with modern contents, back into the new Durant apartment building behind its original cornerstone from the church.

Have ideas for what to include in the new time capsule? Share them in the comments section below. Schrader says he will consider all suggestions.

In addition to the reburial of the time capsule, Schrader said he plans to install the historic church cornerstone on the site of the new apartments. He also plans to incorporate the churchs large copper steeple as public art, part of the landscaping on the property. He hopes those efforts will serve as a way to help carry some of the past forward, he said.

Ijust think you should connect the past to the future if you can do it somehow, he said. That building didnt have anything really distinctive other than this beautiful copper steeple. I dont want to just sell it and see it get melted down.

The copper box, measuring 10 inches long by 8 inches wide and 8 inches tall, had been soldered shut to be completely air- and watertight, said Nielson. He took the box home and opened it carefully so as not to damage it, he said.

In addition to the items described above, Nielson said the box also includeda 1926 book of government for the denomination, a bulleted short historyfrom the churchs founding in 1945 until its groundbreaking in 1948, bylaws of its incorporation, and some programs from the groundbreaking ceremony itself, which mentions the time capsule and its contents.

Its all just a bit of local history, he said, via email. Very homey.

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Berkeley time capsule contents unveiled: historic bible, anti-liquor pamphlets, more

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(Image courtesy Pilgrim Church)

A historical image of the church.

By Patrick D. Rosso, Boston.com Staff

The red brick Pilgrim Church in Dorchester has been accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places, permanently recognizing its significance and opening it up to funding sources specifically designed for historic structures.

Construction of the church, at 540 Columbia Road. in Uphams Corner, began in 1890. It was designed by Stephen Carpenter Earle, who also designed the University of Massachusetts Amhersts Old Chapel and Memorial Hall in Canton, among a number of other notable structures.

Its really great that the federal government is saying that a building in Dorchester is important to the nation, said John Odams, the reverend of the Pilgrim Trinitarian Congregational Church. Its an important building that should be preserved. The registration will hopefully open it up to a lot more funding sources.

Highlighted for its age, design, and architect, Odams said the church, which still has regular services, is a marker for when the neighborhood of Dorchester switched from a rural community to suburban neighborhood of Boston.

When he [Stephen Carpenter Earle] began his work in Dorchester it was just becoming a street carriage suburb of Boston, Odams said. What would have been considered a downtown church was being built right in the suburbs, which was unusual for the time.

Although the announcement is exciting for the congregation of 20 that call the church home, Odams said its biggest impact will be helping raise money for its restoration.

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Pilgrim Church accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places

This sealed copper box, 10 inches long by 8 inches wide by 8 inches tall, was discovered at a construction site in Berkeley last week. Photo: Bill Schrader Jr.

A construction crew taking its first steps to prepare an old community church for demolitiondiscovered a time capsule from 1948 hidden inside the wall behind the church cornerstone last week.

The sealed copper box initially stumped its finders, said Scott Allen, site superintendent at 2024 Durant Ave., the location where anew apartment housing development calledThe Durantis slated to be built.

Last Monday morning, Jan. 13, at about 11 oclock, Allen said the crew was just beginning work on the first day of the project to demolish the old church, Durant Avenue Presbyterian. Developer Bill Schrader Jr. had given firm instructions to remove the church cornerstone, which includes the buildings name and construction date, to save the granite marker for inclusion on the new project site.

Wewanted to get that out and protect it and keep it safe so we didnt have any complications later, said Allen, who works for Sacramento-based Brown Construction. When we removed it, there was a copper box on the back. Wewent to knock it off, or pull it off, and it wouldnt move.

At first, everyone was perplexed. The box was soldered shut, and had no visible damage.

Allen said no one was really sure what the box was or what to do with it, when he suddenly remembered hed seen something similar once before during a demolition project in New Zealand. Allen said a time capsule had been found on the back of that buildings cornerstone. But he said he hadnt seen anything like it stateside during his 12 years in construction.

He told the group what he thought, and there was an immediate reaction.

Everybody was excited from myself to Bill Schrader to the building inspector to the guys, the demolition crew that was there, said Allen. Most of these people had never seen this before. It came as a shock to most of them.

Removing the name plate for the church, to the left of the doorway, was the first step in the process. Photo: Scott Allen

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Time capsule discovered during church demolition

Avoca, Luzerne County -- A demolition crew made serious progress Monday dismantling something that stood for more than a century in Avoca. Chunk by chunk, Pioneer Construction tore down the old Ss. Peter & Paul Church at Main and Vine Streets. "Another church gone," said Bob Ryzner of Duryea. He was married in Ss. Peter & Paul Church in 1983. He wanted one last look at the Avoca landmark before it was all gone. "It's sad to see it go but I guess that's today's way of things. Knock 'em down instead of fixing them up."

The Diocese of Scranton closed Ss. Peter & Paul in October 2011 and sold it to the borough of Avoca for $144,000. Borough council decided it was cost prohibitive to renovate the building so decided to demolish it and build a new municipal building on the church grounds. "You know, I think it's wonderful in the name of progress that it's going to be a municipal building. I'm sad that we weren't able to save the structure," said Jeff Romanecz who lives next door to the church in the parish's former rectory building which he bought last year. He co-write a book about the church's history for its centennial celebration in 2009. "My great-grandfather was one of the founders of the parish and actually built this building," said Mr. Romanecz. "The family's been at the house all morning stopping by, taking pictures and you know shedding some tears." He and others hoped the former house of worship could be used in some capacity. "If it was saved, I hope it would be a community center or a theater. You know if somebody came commercially, a restaurant," said Mr. Romanecz. Mr. Ryzner added, "I would have hoped it would have been kept and renovated into a borough building and you know at least kept the old look."

Even though the construction crew waited until Monday to carry out the bulk of demolition, some removal work was done in advance. The borough salvaged the church's granite steps and a bell from the church tower. It's even cleaning up some bricks to give away to former parishioners at a later date. But for some, that's little consolation. "You never would have thought years ago this was going to happen but here it is and it's happening," said Mr. Ryzner.

Demolition on the church should be completed Tuesday morning with all of the debris removed by the end of the week. Avoca borough hopes to begin construction of its new municipal building at the site this spring.

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Avoca Church Demolition Causes Sadness, Frustration

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Christian Life Assembly choir members sing during the service on Sunday morning in the newly finished wing of the church.Melissa Evanko/Pocono Record

January 20, 2014

Christian Life Assembly first began holding services at its church in Stroud Township in December 1983. On Sunday, just over 30 years later, members gathered to dedicate a fully renovated, expanded church that displays how much the congregation has grown since then.

More than 300 people sat comfortably in the sanctuary to celebrate those involved in the construction of the new church addition that took five years, and those who built the congregation membership over the last 30-plus years.

"Because you have been faithful, God has brought you to this point. But I can tell you, we would never be at this point unless there were others who laid the groundwork before us," said Lead Pastor Craig Johnson.

Helping to draw a link between the church's history and its next chapter were two longtime leaders former Lead Pastor John Puleo and former Associate Pastor Tim Holmes.

Holmes told congregants about his first visit to a much smaller Christian Life Assembly in 1985. He said even at that point, the church's pastor was talking construction.

"He told me, 'Tim, where do you think we can add onto this church?'" Holmes recalled.

Since then it seems the church has done nothing but grow, both in size and membership. Holmes, a longtime church board member, said each year the board had some kind of construction project in mind.

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Five-year, $850K church renovation finished in Stroud Township

Afterforcing the reversal of Ukraine's political course and offering President Yanukovych a financial and economic bailout last year, Russia is apparently now planning to intervene directly in Ukraines church affairs.

The events surrounding the EuroMaidan over the last sixty days have shown just how important the church remains to Ukrainians. This concerns primarily the three main confessions that trace their roots to the Kyiv Metropolitanate created by the Patriarchate of Constantinople during the times of Prince Volodymyr the Great: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP), the Ukrainian Orthodox Church subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC), which remains in union with the Pope of Rome.

The Kremlin plans to suborn Ukraine politically, economically and culturally. Support for separatist movements, coupled with the December 2013 economic accords signed in Moscow, form part of the first two pillars of this strategy. As a serious instrument to advance Russian political interests in Ukraine, the Moscow Patriarchate is indispensable to the construction of the third pillar.

The leader of the UOC MP, Metropolitan Volodymyr, is in grave health; uncharachacteristically he was absent from any Christmas-related celebrations this year, even in the hospital.

Metropolitan Volodymyr, an ethnic Ukrainian, has maintained a measure of balance of power within the UOC MP and allowed the church to retain relative independence from Moscow. His successor will determine whether this church continues on its Ukrainian path, or will fall into complete dependency on Russia, fulfilling the dreams of the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, and the Kremlin.

There are several potential candidates among the church's bishops to replace Metropolitan Volodymyr. Most often mentioned as a successor is Metropolitan Antoniy (Pakanych), but the candidacies of metropolitans Onufriy of Bukovyna, and Ilarion from Donetsk are also under discussion.

However, none of these hierarchs enjoy Moscows full trust. Therefore, since 2011 there is a plan to appoint the head of the UOC MP from Moscow, in particular, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), a Russian citizen, the Russian Orthodox Churchs (ROC) chief diplomat and Patriarch Kirills closest adviser.

An appointment like this would be akin to President Vladimir Putin sending someone from his inner circle to run Ukraine's economy as prime minister.

To implement this strategy, Patriarch Kirill might come to the council that elects the new Metropolitan of Kyiv, where either he or his loyal bishops in Ukraine will propose to elect Hilarion (Alfeev). To ensure the desired result, the voting procedure will be made open and not by secret ballot.

This appears to be a plausible scenario, especially after we witnessed how, under Kremlin pressure, Ukraine's leadership changed its political orientation on the eve of signing a civilizational pact with the European Union.

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Moscow's plan for Ukraine's church