Rock Sacred to Early Christians Found in Israel

JERUSALEM —  Archeologists have uncovered the spot where early Christians believed Mary rested on her way to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus, Israeli officials said Sunday.

The large octagonal church now being excavated was discovered last month while contractors were laying a water pipe for construction workers at nearby Har Homa, a controversial planned Jewish settlement on the edge of traditionally Arab East Jerusalem.

The site is midway between the Old City of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

The 5th century Byzantine church, with well-preserved mosaic and marble floors, is built around a rock that is known as Kathisma--”the seat” in Greek.

This rock is believed to be Mary’s resting place.

Church tradition has historically held that Mary rested three miles, or midway, into her journey from the Old City to Bethlehem. A 2nd century text by St. James said she had a vision there, which prompted her to stop at the spot.

“It was a magnificent church, one of the largest of its time, on a site visited by pilgrims for hundreds of years until it was destroyed and deserted,” said Gideon Avni, in charge of Israel’s Antiquities Authority operations in Jerusalem.

In 1992, the edge of the site was discovered during widening of the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, but archeologists were permitted to return to excavate only last month.