This book transforms archaeological knowledge of Nazareth by publishing over 80 years of archaeological work at the Sisters of Nazareth convent, including a detailed re-investigation in the early twenty-first century under the author's direction. Although one of the world's most famous places and of key importance to understanding early Christianity, Nazareth has attracted little archaeological attention. Following a chance discovery in the 1880s, the site was initially explored by the nuns of the convent themselves – one of the earliest examples of a major programme of excavations initiated and directed by women – and then for decades by Henri Senès, whose excavations (like those of the nuns) have remained almost entirely unpublished. Their work revealed a complex sequence, elucidated and dated by twenty-first century study, beginning with a partly rock-cut Early Roman-period domestic building, followed by Roman-period quarrying and burial, a well-preserved cave-church, and major surface-level Byzantine and Crusader churches. The interpretation and broader implications of each phase of activity are discussed in the context of recent studies of Roman-period, Byzantine, and later archaeology and contemporary archaeological theory, and their relationship to written accounts of Nazareth is also assessed. The Sisters of Nazareth Convent provides a crucial archaeological study for those wishing to understand the archaeology of Nazareth and its place in early Christianity and beyond.

"With a full report of the various dioceses in the United States and British North America, and a list of archbishops, bishops, and priests in Ireland.

Archaeology of Jesus' Nazareth is the first book on the archaeology of first-century Nazareth: Jesus' hometown in Galilee. Requiring no previous knowledge of biblical history or archaeology, it outlines the latest archaeological evidence, placing the Gospels' account of Jesus' youth in the Bible, and origins of Christian pilgrimage, in a new context. The book concentrates on the fascinating Sisters of Nazareth site in the centre of the present city. There, twenty-first century archaeological research identified a Byzantine pilgrimage church, which is likely to be the Church of the Nutrition - dedicated to the upbringing of Christ - the most important previously 'lost' early Christian church in the Holy Land. A seventh-century pilgrim said that a vaulted area under the Church of the Nutrition contained the actual house where Jesus was brought up by Mary and Joseph. Intriguingly, below the Byzantine church at the Sisters of Nazareth site a vaulted area preserved what are probably the ruins of a first-century house. Even before the Byzantine church was built, a - probably fourth-century - cave-church was constructed next to the first-century ruins, suggesting that they were assigned Christian religious importance. The similarities with the pilgrim's description raise the question of whether the Sisters of Nazareth house really could have been the childhood home of Jesus. The book draws to its conclusion by means of a discussion of this historical existence for Jesus and the implications of the archaeology of Nazareth for understanding the Gospels.

Is Atheism Dead? is an entertaining, impressively wide-ranging, and decidedly provocative answer to that famous 1966 TIME cover that itself provocatively asked “Is God Dead?” In a voice that is by turns witty, muscular, and poetic, Metaxas intentionally echoes C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton in cheerfully and logically making his astonishing case, along the way presenting breathtaking—and often withering—new evidence and arguments against the idea of a Creatorless universe. Taken all together, he shows atheism not merely to be implausible and intellectually sloppy, but now demonstrably ridiculous. Perhaps the only unanswered question on the subject is why we couldn’t see this sooner, and how embarrassed we should be about it.

Where was Golgotha? Was Peter's house in Capernaum? Was Mary from the town of Magdala? Where was Bethsaida? We've all heard the arguments, but what do the archaeological finds tell us? This book pulls together archaeological information, scattered in journals and final reports, relating to the Gospel of Luke with appealing photography, instructive illustrations, and fascinating recent finds. It uses archaeology to reconstruct the social, religious, historical, geographical, and pathological context for the story of Jesus and the Jesus-movement. The book not only features the "shiny objects" from the excavations (the beautiful pottery, buildings, and entertainment facilities) but also items that are not usually handled in glossy magazines, namely, the human, skeletal remains. Yet, these bones are an important window into the biblical world indicating lifespan, morbidity, socioeconomic standing, violence, and stature. The work will employ four areas of archaeological finds and investigations, including inscriptions, large finds (of buildings), small finds (jewelry, pottery, coins), and human remains, to help interpret and illustrate the Gospel of Luke. Along the way, it assesses several archaeological controversies, giving care to be fair to all sides but leaving the reader with the information to make up his or her own mind.

Nazareth Quest is a tense thriller set in Israel. Nazareth Quest arguably combines the best of the CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) franchise together with archaeology. Book review of Nazareth Quest in Mensa Magazine: Irish Mensan Bernard Mulholland is well known for his academic publications. An archaeologist and historian with a PhD from Queen’s University in Belfast, his thesis was published as The Early Byzantine Christian Church – and his other works include The Man from Mensa, a look at Mensa’s history and research projects. Now, in a complete change of direction, Bernard has published his first novel. Nazareth Quest is a dramatic thriller set in the historic lands of Israel. Invited to join a team of archaeologists in Nazareth, to survey the archaeology beneath the Sisters of Nazareth Convent, Brendan Mallon leaps at the opportunity. Crusaders, both Templars and Hospitallers, have been intimately associated with the history of Christian churches in Nazareth for more than a millennia, and now these archaeologists find themselves tasked with uncovering secrets of these ancient orders. What first drew these Crusaders to Nazareth, and could the archaeologists reveal the hidden truth behind many of the mysteries that have transcended time? Forced to battle, first with soldiers of Christ and then for their very existence against a demon overlord with ties to the British monarchy, the archaeologists each have to dig deep to discover the route to their own salvation. And, more than that, to then decide whether to join a quest to recover holy relics associated with the Last Supper. Editor (2022), ‘Bernard’s on a Nazareth Quest’, Books, Mensa Magazine, November, p. 12.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in the past? Did they experience reality in a much different way than we do now with our media, our fast travel, our fast food, and our leisure? Do you especially think about what it might have been like to have lived in Bible times? What would your childhood have been like? How would you have chosen a marriage partner? How would you probably have made a living? What sort of house would you have lived in? What diseases would have threatened your daily existence? How long would you have lived? How would you have practiced your religion? These are a few of the intriguing questions answered by this study. The book takes you on a journey into the past to view daily life through the lenses of not only texts but archaeological finds. The information from the past is also filtered through ethnographic studies of more contemporaneous, yet traditional, societies in the Middle East. The result is a presentation that may surprise you--even shock you--at times, but always will interest you.

Jonathan TomesaEUR(tm) imaginatively created tale of the lives of Joseph and Mary from the biblical account in the gospels is very insightful. The narrative holds the reader in suspense from the first chapter to the end of the book. The intellectual structure is also a unique takeaway of the story of Joseph and Mary. aEUR"Jack Walter Pastor of Connections and Family Care, World Revival Church, Kansas City, MO A papyrus begins with YosefaEUR(tm)s early life. Yosef tells what it was like to be notified that, as an elderly widower, he must go to Jerusalem where he may be selected to marry a young temple virgin. Not thrilled when chosen, but being unwilling to gainsay YahwehaEUR(tm)s will, he takes her home. He recounts how he felt when he discovered her pregnancy, his disbelief of how she became pregnant, his fear that if he divorces her, she may be stoned, and his acceptance of the LordaEUR(tm)s will. They travel to Bethlehem. Yosef recounts the birth, the appearance of the shepherds, the Magi, and his reaction to learning that they must flee HerodaEUR(tm)s murder of the firstborn males. He recounts the trip to Egypt, their stay there, and the return home. He recounts his JesusaEUR(tm)s youth from the circumcision, through the presentation in the temple, to Jesus being missing and the desperate search for him before finding him teaching the temple priests, to his leaving for the wilderness. He accompanies Jesus on his ministries and learns of his miracles. Too old and infirm to travel, Jesus comforts Yosef on his deathbed. The holy family celebrates seder before YosefaEUR(tm)s peaceful death. Jonathan P. Tomes is a retired army lieutenant colonel who served in the Infantry in Vietnam, in Military Intelligence in Germany, and as a Judge Advocate GeneralaEUR(tm)s Corps officer, including serving as a military judge. He is the author of more than sixty nonfiction books and an equal number of articles, focusing on military legal issues and healthcare compliance. His most recent book, Ghost 6 and the Bright Blue Blade, was published by Christian Faith Publishing. He has completed the companion book to Yosef, I Am Miryam bat Joachim, the Wife of Yosef and the Mother of the Messiah and the sequel to Ghost 6, Ghost 6 and the Valkyries.