Has the cross of Jesus been found? A group of archeologists working at an ancient church in Turkey may have uncovered a few pieces of the religious relic.
According to Live Science , the researchers discovered a section of a cross in a stone chest among the ruins of Balatlar Church.
Lead archaeologist Gülgün Körolu told the Hurriyet Daily News, said: “We have found a holy thing in a chest. It is a piece of a cross… This stone chest is very important to us. It has a history and is the most important artifact we have unearthed so far.”
The Christian Post reports that the stone chest is approximately 1,350 years old and belonged to a “holy person.”
Koroglu showed the stone chest and the cross to reporters today. The section of the cross was small enough to be held in one hand.
The cross and the chest have been sent to a laboratory for further testing.
NBC notes that many churches have claimed to have found the cross of Jesus. Unfortunately, many critics doubt the authenticity of these crosses. John Calvin, a theologian from the 16th century, said that so many pieces of Jesus’ cross have been found over the years that “if all the pieces… were collected together, they would make a big ship-load.”
Koroglu believes that the cross uncovered by his team came from Jesus crucifixion but she hasn’t been able to prove it yet. The archaeologist believes that the stone chest held important religious artifacts. Jesus cross would certainly fall into that category.
The excavation project at Balatlar Church has been going on since 2009. Koroglu said that the recent discovery was the most important since the project began.
Do you think the cross of Jesus has been found?
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