Ashdod Yam (Azotos Paralios) - Church of the Deaconesses

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Ashdod Yam (Azotos Paralios)

Church name:

Church of the Deaconesses

Dedication:

unknown

Functional Type:

Unknown

Church type:

Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

164,676.00

632,108.00

Location:

Urban

Geographical region:

Southern Coastal Plain

Topographical location:

Near the sea shore, 500m east of the Muslim fort.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

in Azotos Paralios

Distance from nearest settlement:

In modern Ashdod, Street Har Gilboa 24

Distance from Roman roads:

Ca. 5 km to the west from Via Maris, near the shore.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Azotos

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
A. Fantalkin and S. Ganor	Aug. 2017
A. Fantalkin	July-Aug. 2019, 2021

Bibliograpy:

Bäbler, B. and Fantalkin, A., forthcoming

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

A basilical curch with an annexed apsidal chapel and more rooms to its north. Mosaic paved with many dated memorial inscriptions, refering to burials under the bema, the northern aisle, and in the narthex. A large part of the basilica was destroyed in 60-70s of the 20th century CE during the building of a dwelling house. Perhaps a monastic church. Some inscription mention bishops, unknown so far. Destroyed in a conflagration attested by a layer of burnt wooden beams and roof tiles covering the floor.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Azotos Paralios, Diaconess Church, General plan with three phases (courtesy A. Pantalkin)

Azotos Paralios, Diaconess Church, Northern Chapel (courtesy A. Pantalkin)

Lateral walls:

The walls were built from limestone ashlars and concrete. Only the lower tier was preserved. Some segments are completely lost and only imprints of the stones were left.

Aisles:

Two cist tombs were uncovered in the southern aisle.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

No bema step in front of the apse. A masonry case for an under-altar reliquary marks the location of the altar. A cist tomb was found to its south.

Lateral spaces:

Long dead-end aisles flanking the apse, mosaic paved.

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

Aisles:

East end:

External apse, round

Church Head/Chevet:

monoapsidal with open lateral rooms or spaces (mon-aps I)

Central Apse Category:

apsidal

Altar reliquiarium type:

Depression in the floor

Pastophoria

Description and function of northern:

Open space - aisle dead-end, mosaic paved.

Cult of relics

Reliquiaries: shapes and contents:

A masonry case for an under-altar reliquary marks the location of the altar. A cist tomb was found to its south. See photos under General Description. The reliquary was found empty and broken in the collapse of the church.

Burial loci

Burials loci:

Several names of deaconesses were mentioned in the Greek inscriptions, located one under the other in the eastern part of the northern annex (near the altar of the northern chapel). The mosaic in this part is sunken, as there is a burial locus under it. Not excavated yet.

Attached structures

Att structures photos and planes:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Annex/es on the north:

An apsidal chapel with a protruding apse, dated by an inscription to mid 5th c. Two more rooms, located farther west, were added later.

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:

Apsidal chapel

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:

An apsidal chapel is attached to the church on the north. A section along its southern wall was delineated by a screen of marble plates. It may mark the location of a sarcophagus. To its north there is a hole in the floor, seemingly to permit contact with an underlined relic.

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Phase 1

General outline:

The earliest dated inscription is dated to 416 CE, suggesting that the basilica was built in the early 5th c.

Dating material:

A dated inscription.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Early

Phase name (as published):

Phase 2

General outline:

The northern chapel was added to the basilica some time around the mid 5th c. A small apse was installed there somewhat later.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Mid

Phase name (as published):

Phase 3

General outline:

More rooms were added to the west of the northern chapel in the course of the 6th c. No iconoclastic affects suggest destruction prior to the early 8th c.

Dating material:

Epigraphy; dated inscriptions.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

General outline:

A layer of burnt roof beams and plenty of roof tiles were covering the mosaic floor everywhere. Latest coins no later than 600 CE. Affects of an earthquake are also considered.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

Early

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned