Ancient Armenian Inscriptions Found in Jerusalem Reveal Early Christian Life

Recent excavations in Jerusalem's Musrara neighborhood have uncovered four Armenian inscriptions dating from the sixth to seventh centuries, offering fresh insights into early Christian life in the city. Scholar Michael E. Stone emphasizes that these findings reveal significant information about the Armenian settlement and their roles within a monastic complex, alongside the Greek community. The most notable artifact is a mosaic inscription dedicated by a priest named Ewstat‘, which highlights the historical and cultural exchange between Armenians and Greeks during that period. The inscriptions, discovered on a mosaic floor, tombstones, and pottery, were confirmed to date back through archaeological evidence including coins from the mid-seventh century. The research contributes to understanding the religious and social dynamics of Eastern Christianity in Jerusalem during the Ottoman period. The study has been published in the journal Atiqot, adding to the growing body of knowledge about the region's ancient history.