VOA文化艺术2022--耶路撒冷教堂重新发现古代祭坛

Ancient Altar Rediscovered at Jerusalem’s Church

Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the site of Jesus's crucifixion and burial. It is one of the holiest sites in Christianity.

Pressed against a wall of the church is a stone that contains writings and marks created by centuries of pilgrims.

But the 2.5 x 1.5 meter stone turned out to be far more important when its other side was uncovered during recent repair work at the church.

Researchers believe the design on the long-hidden part of the stone is evidence that it was once the front of a high altar. The altar is the center of a church where religious ceremony takes place. It would have been in use centuries ago.

On the stone would have been "pieces of glass, pieces of small, finely made marble," said Amit Re'em. He is an archaeologist for the Israel Antiquities² Authority who researched the stone with Ilya Berkovich of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

They said the design combines Classical, Byzantine and early Islamic art in which small pieces of colorful marble are used to fill in circular cuttings on the stone.

It stood at the sanctuary³ of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Re'em said.

Similarly decorated altars have been found inside churches in Rome dating to the 12th and 13th centuries, the researchers said.

They believe the stone fits with past archaeological findings and with pilgrims' accounts of the creation of the church. The Crusaders, a Christian¹ military mission, founded the Church and formed its main altar in 1149.

The altar was used by the Catholic clergy⁴ to celebrate mass until the Crusaders left Jerusalem, Re'em said. Afterward⁵, it was used by the Greek Orthodox church until it was damaged in a fire in 1808. The altar was forgotten until the recent repair work, Re'em said.

The researchers' findings are expected to be released by the end of the year by Israel's Exploration Society.

Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina is with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He welcomed such research at the church.

"Works from people of art, people of archaeology⁶, contribute to us, contribute to the belief of the church, to the conviction of the church, that this is the place...on which Jesus Christ was crucified...buried and from which he came to resurrection," he told Reuters.

Words in This Story

church — n. a building that is used for Christian religious services

pilgrim — n. a platform or table used as a center of worship in Christian ceremonies and services

altar — n. a raised place on which sacrifices and gifts are offered in some religions

marble — n. a kind of stone that is often polished and used in buildings and statues

sanctuary — n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter

resurrection — n. the event told about in the Bible in which Jesus Christ returned to life after his death

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

3 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

4 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

5 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

6 archaeology   

n.考古学

参考例句：

• She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
• He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。