According to Heritage Daily; Archaeological excavations in the church complex of the ancie city of Lystra, located in the Meram region of Konya, led to the discovery of a remarkable religious artifact. Archaeologists unearthed a bronze reliquary cross that dates back to the Middle Ages and has opened a new window to the religious traditions of that era.
This ancie city was one of the importa stops in the missionary journeys of Sai Paul and played a key role in the spread of Christianity in Anatolia. However, the discovered object belongs to a later period and experts estimate its age between the 9th and 11th ceuries AD.
What distinguishes this find from other examples is its iact structure. Unlike most chambered crosses, which are usually found open or in pieces, this particular example is riveted from the inside and completely sealed. The head of the excavation team explains that this cross was designed to be used as a necklace.
Preliminary investigations show that, corary to popular belief, there are no physical holy objects or relics of sais inside this chamber. Instead of using human figures, the design of this work focuses on patterns and motifs, which are consiste with certain traditions of medieval Christianity.
This discovery once again highlights the importance of Lystra as a multi-layered historical site. Lystra is a place that needs to be read not only from the poi of view of archeology, but also from the poi of view of theology and culture. Curre excavations are ongoing under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye and the cooperation of local authorities to perhaps complete more pieces of the puzzle of the history of Christianity in Anatolia.
