Latest Update
November 26, 2011
The team recently visited the excavations at Givot Bar in the Negev Desert – sponsored by GOD TV partners and viewers from around the world. The restoration phase of the project has now been completed and the final landscaping stage is well under way. The uncovered Byzantine church or monastery dates back to the 6th century where a band of 10 to 20 believers lived and worshipped God. As more and more of the monastery has been excavated, finds such as built-in kitchen cupboards reveal clues to lifestyle and worship tendencies, bringing history back to life from this bygone era.
The project is estimated to be completed in January, when the local community, visitors and GOD TV tour members, will be able to visit this important historical site all set within a beautifully landscaped garden. Rich with trees and a shaped cobblestone band, the garden is dotted with benches for visitors to relax on and take in the beauty and history.
The excavation site is located at Givot Bar, right next to the GOD TV Forest. Launched in 2008, our ONE MILLION+ TREES FOR ISRAEL project has seen thousands of the GOD TV family plant trees to reclaim the Negev and join in this prophetic act to prepare the Holy Land for the return of the King. This makes this site a particularly significant area for the GOD TV team and worldwide family.
To find out more about the ONE MILLION+ TREES FOR ISRAEL project, click here.
Below are some recent photos taken at the excavation site:
The team responsible for the site meets to discuss the final landscaping phase, as well as matters like maintenance and security. A 24-hour surveillance camera will soon be installed to ensure that this historical gem is not compromised in any way, and the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) will conduct annual inspections and will also be on-call to perform any necessary maintenance.
The ‘plan’ details the various landscaping elements such as the gardens, lighting, benches and the cobblestone band. The cobblestone area will be formed out of excavation site rocks that have crumbled from the church’s walls in some areas.
During the preservation work, the internal walls were plastered in keeping with the original plasterwork found. Coating the walls in this way will preserve this historical site for Israel tourists and pilgrims to enjoy for many years to come.The arch in place now is a replica of the original, which unfortunately was too badly damaged to save. The outer walls have also been reinforced to ensure that the foundations of the monastery's outer walls do not collapse.
The beautifully restored kitchen with built-in cupboards.
This beautifully restored boulder was rolled across the entrance, serving as the protective door to the monastery.
The wine press is positioned alongside the monastery and is now fully restored. It comprises two rooms where the grapes were first pressed, then juiced and stored in the ‘well’. The well is quite deep, but has been filled up to a depth stipulated by Israeli safety regulations.
The restored monastery chapel with its lovely mosaic floor, leading to the apse.
Once work is completed in January 2012, we will post more updates.
Thank you
To everyone who has donated to this project, we can’t thank you enough! You have played a significant role in bringing this hidden world to the surface.
This truly is an extraordinary site that is well worth visiting. The Givot Bar community in the Negev is happy to welcome all GOD TV viewers, and is hoping to see many of you soon!
June 2, 2011
We have good news to share about our Israel Excavation site...The GOD TV sponsored excavations at Givot Bar in the Negev are revealing more and more historic gems, as the archaeologists continue to work relentlessly on conserving as much of the church walls as possible.
The mosaic floor in the chapel is now fully exposed. You can actually stand on it and imagine what it would have been like to be in the chapel and the apse so many years ago! We know that believers came here to worship God - possibly arriving to the Holy Land from the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Jerusalem.
It is a unique mosaic, not necessarily done by the best craftsman, but truly extraordinary in what it represents. Its inscription discloses what the name of the site was at the time: Beit Mor, which means "House of Myrrh".The praying figure with outstretched arms looks remarkably like some early representations of John the Baptist in the country, but this is not verified. The round entrance stone stands out clearly now, and the arched side entrance will be given new replica stones (already on-site) as the archaeologists try to preserve what they can of the original crumbling arch.
The site is situated near a large area of newly planted trees in the Negev desert - part of the GOD TV One Million + Tree Project. Both the excavation and the trees will be specially recognized by the Israeli Authority as sponsored by GOD TV.This area will soon become a fascinating location for both Israelis and Christian pilgrims to visit, possessing a great wealth of historic and spiritual significance.
The timetable from here: This June the engineering work will commence with the reinforcing wall to ensure that the foundations of the church's outer wall do not collapse. Hereafter, the access area will be constructed and walkways, seating, etc, will be laid in place. If all goes according to plan, work will be finished by the end of August. The site will be looked after on an ongoing basis and will undergo annual inspections by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
An exciting update from Rory Alec in the Holy Land
The Negev Desert has revealed traces of an ancient Christian community…
While clearing land as part of Israel’s project to reclaim the desert as suitable residential ground, a buried ‘world’ was unveiled. This historical gem has revealed buildings and artifacts from an ancient Christian community who lived in the Holy Land over 1500 years ago! This location is where some of the first Christian gathered to worship God. At Givot Bar in the Negev stands an old Farmhouse and Byzantine Church building - from as early as the 6th Century. Historical artifacts like an ancient wine press and water cistern also point to a lifestyle of centuries gone by.
"This was the most significant dig that I have been involved with in my work as an archaeologist!" says Mr. Paran (Archaeologist for The Israeli Antiquities Authority).
Much work is yet to be done to reveal more clues as to how this social group lived, as many parts are still to be excavated.
