During the research of the ancient church in the Egil district, which has already become a center of cultural and religious tourism, archaeologists discovered a strange fossil. The remains of a fossil creature, a sea urchin, are associated with faith in Jesus Christ.
During the last two years, archaeological research in the rock church has been actively carried out in the Egil area. The result of these excavations was the clearing of the tunnels and the completion of 80% of the work. These efforts have led to the fact that the church will soon be open to visitors.
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During the research, rock carvings of crosses, coins belonging to European states and the Ottoman Empire, and sacred relics were discovered.
As the researchers noted, the church was a part of the monastery named after St. John of Ephesus, who lived in Aegil and taught here for some time.
One of the most interesting finds in the rock church was the fossil remains of a creature that scientists call a "sand dollar". The creature, which once lived at the bottom of the ocean, interested researchers due to its extraordinary nature and connection with religious legends.
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"In the Christian world, this fossil creature is considered as an object related to faith in Jesus Christ. His wings of 5 stars symbolize the birth, death and ascension of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it has a wonderful feature as a center where holy relics important for Christians are kept," said Dikle Vesihy Ozkaya, a lecturer at the Department of Archeology at the University.
According to Vesikha Ozkai, the four holes symbolize the four wounds of Christ, which he received during the crucifixion, when his hands and feet were nailed to the cross. The central hole is seen as a wound inflicted by a soldier's spear.
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Researchers note that this church was formed as a result of the combination of two separate rock tombs.
Currently, the documentation of the finds, the cleaning of the territory, and the preparation for the safe visit of this place by tourists are being completed. The road to the church was arranged so that local and foreign guests could easily reach it.
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Source: arkeonews.net
