Connect with us

Latest

Archaeologists uncover mysterious Christian artifact near waters tied to Jesus’ ministry: ‘No known parallel’

Published

on

Archaeologists have uncovered a one-of-a-kind artifact near the Sea of Galilee that may reveal new details about how early Christians practiced baptism.

The 1,400-year-old artifact was recently found in the ancient city of Hippos, a prominent bishop’s seat during the Byzantine era, according to a March 30 press release shared with Fox News Digital.

The city was once the only Christian city around the Sea of Galilee, controlling territory associated with Jesus’ ministry.

LEGENDARY CAPTAIN WHO INSPIRED ‘THE THREE MUSKETEERS’ MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND UNDER CHURCH ALTAR

The marble bloc was found in a hall of baptism called a photisterion. It may shed light on “a stage of the early Christian baptismal rite that has until now gone unrecorded,” officials said.

Hippos’ cathedral had two baptismal halls: one for adults, and another for infants and children, which is where the new object was found.

The smaller hall was constructed after 591 A.D. and was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 A.D. — meaning the object is roughly 1,400 years old.

COIN USED AS BUS FARE TURNS OUT TO BE 2,000-YEAR-OLD RELIC, ITS JOURNEY STILL A MYSTERY

Officials described the artifact as “a rectangular block bearing three hemispheric cavities, found beside a baptismal font in a newly revealed ceremonial hall.”

Researchers believe the block may have held three different oils used during a threefold baptismal immersion ceremony.

Pictures of the object show the weathered marble block with three bowl-shaped basins, suggesting it was designed to hold liquids side by side.

Early Christian baptisms more commonly involved two anointings before and after the rite — which makes the three-part design particularly unusual.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“The collapse buried the marble and bronze artifacts beneath the rubble, preserving them until their recent discovery,” the release noted.

Officials added, “After extensive examination and comparison, the scholars concluded that no known parallels to the artifact exist.”

Michael Eisenberg, a University of Haifa archaeologist who recently published the results in the journal PEQ, along with colleague Arleta Kowalewska, said the object was found among a variety of “remarkable liturgical objects,” including a bronze candelabrum used to hold candles.

“Only after careful research did we realize how unique they are for understanding Christian ritual practices in the cradle of Christianity by the Sea of Galilee,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The object was “nothing special at first glance,” to the excavations, Eisenberg told Fox News Digital.

“But here is exactly where the archaeological and liturgical studies came into play.”

“Realizing that it is a one-of-a-kind artifact that may fill unknown regional and perhaps wider lacunae in one of the most ancient and sacred Christian ceremonies was a complete surprise.”

Eisenberg said the findings may “open a portal” to the development of baptism rituals in the early Christian world.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

“In different regions, distinct liturgical traditions developed, many of which are not documented in written sources,” the archaeologist said.

“This find offers a rare glimpse into how the baptismal rite was shaped and practiced in the Byzantine Christian community of Hippos.”

The find joins a long list of significant archaeological discoveries found at Hippos in recent years.

Last year, excavators in Hippos found a 1,600-year-old Christian care facility for the elderly, which is possibly the world’s oldest nursing home.

Last July, metal detectorists found a trove of ancient jewelry and gold coins near ruins in Hippos.

Continue Reading

Latest

NHL fan goes into labor during Oilers game against Golden Knights, broadcaster says

Published

on

An NHL fan at Rogers Place to watch the Edmonton Oilers take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday gave birth in the arena during the game, according to a broadcaster.

Oilers play-by-play man Jack Michaels made the revelation as Sportsnet came back on air for the start of the third period.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Breaking news, we have word that someone has gone into labor here tonight,” Michaels said. “There’s a baby being born on the seventh floor at Rogers Place as we speak. So, someone is going to have a great story to tell. It would be nice to have them join us on ‘After Hours’ to describe what’s happened but that could be asking a bit much.”

There was no more information given about the baby, including the child’s name. Perhaps Edmond or Edmund could be a fitting name if the child is a boy.

OILERS LOSE LEON DRAISAITL FOR REST OF REGULAR SEASON AS PLAYOFFS APPROACH

Meanwhile, the Oilers fell to the Golden Knights, 5-1. Brett Howden and Jeremy Lauzon each had a goal and an assist. Colton Sissons, Mark Stone and Rasmus Andersson had a goal each as well.

Vegas goaltender Carter Hart made 31 saves in the victory as the team remained perfect since John Tortorella was named head coach.

Both teams are in the midst of a division title race. Edmonton maintained a slim lead over the Anaheim Ducks with five games left in the season. Each team has 87 points on the year.

With the win, Vegas moved a point back behind both teams.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Continue Reading

Latest

Basketball legend Candace Parker takes aim at Geno Auriemma after Dawn Staley confrontation

Published

on

Former WNBA star Candace Parker had no empathy for UConn Huskies women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma after he erupted at South Carolina’s Dawn Staley on Friday night.

Auriemma was upset with Staley failing to meet him for a customary pregame handshake before their Final Four game tipped off. His frustrations with Staley led to him confronting her at halfcourt when the game was over. Staley yelled back at Auriemma as coaches and other staff members got in between the two.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Parker, who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame this week, spoke about the incident on Saturday night.

“In time, you see people’s colors over and over again,” she said. “And there can be a separation of time with that, but the colors always come to light. I think colors were shown yesterday on both sides, right? However you want to take that.”

UCONN’S UNDEFEATED SEASON CRUMBLES AS SOUTH CAROLINA GETS SWEET REVENGE AGAINST REIGNING CHAMPS

Auriemma issued an apology for his outburst.

“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,” the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. “I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”

Staley sidestepped a question about the interaction, saying she was focused on South Carolina’s national championship game against the UCLA Bruins.

“For me, no distractions at this time. I’m concentrating on winning a national championship, that’s it,” Staley said. “That’s a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Continue Reading

Latest

Trump calls rescue of downed Air Force pilot an ‘Easter Miracle’

Published

on

President Donald Trump hailed the rescue of a missing U.S. airman from a downed F-15E in Iran as an “Easter Miracle,” after U.S. forces recovered the second crew member following a high-risk mission behind enemy lines.

“The rescue was an Easter Miracle. The enemy was large and violent. The rescuers were brilliant, strong, decisive, and as cool as anyone can be,” Trump told NBC host Kristen Welker. “Such a rescue has never happened before in so violent an enemy territory. It is usually not done because it is considered not doable.”

The rescue followed the downing of the F-15, which triggered a multi-day search operation inside Iran. U.S. forces had already recovered the first crew member before locating the second, who had been missing in mountainous terrain as large numbers of Iranian forces searched the area.

US PILOT RESCUED FROM DOWNED F-15E FIGHTER JET IN IRAN, SEARCH FOR SECOND CREW MEMBER ONGOING

In a public statement announcing the successful recovery, Trump characterized the operation as one of the most daring in U.S. military history and provided an update on the airman’s condition.

“Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History. He is injured, but he will be just fine,” Trump said. “We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran. The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close.”

Trump also highlighted the operational risks involved, stressing that missions of this kind are rarely attempted due to the danger to both personnel and equipment.

WHAT B-52 BOMBERS BRING TO IRAN FIGHT — AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE WAR

“This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment.’ It just doesn’t happen,” he said.

He revealed that the earlier rescue of the first crew member had been deliberately withheld from public disclosure in order to protect the second operation, suggesting coordination across multiple high-risk missions.

“This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation,” Trump said.

Trump described the dual recovery as historically significant, saying the United States had accomplished something not previously seen in modern military operations.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN ‘NO LONGER A THREAT’ AFTER 32 DAYS — OUTLINES NEXT PHASE OF US WAR

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” he said.

He framed the mission as a broader demonstration of U.S. military capability, pointing to the lack of American casualties and what he described as dominance in the operational environment.

“The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, shows overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

He also called for unity in response to the operation, arguing that the rescue should be a moment of shared national pride across political lines.

“This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around,” Trump said. “We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World.”

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Political Signal