Khirbet Barqa (Gan Yavneh) - Church of Bishop John

Inscription number: 
1
Selected bibliography: 
147-150, fig. 1 (ph.) (ed. pr.)
25, no. 22
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 62 (2012): 1646

Inscription type: 
building
Location: 

In the eastern half of the main mosaic carpet of the nave.

Physical description : 

Fragmentary nine-line mosaic inscription framed in a round medallion (inner diam. 122 cm). Letters (9-11 cm high) are traced in a mixture of red, black, and yellow tesserae against a white background and belong to the oval Byzantine alphabet. Their shapes point to a date in the late 5th - early 6th century. Stigma and horizonal stroke for abbreviation; another horizontal stroke over the figure indicating the year.

Text: 

        [Ἐ]πὶ το[ῦ]

        [θε]οφιλ[εσ]τάτ(ου)

        καὶ ὁσιωτάτου

4     Ἰωάννο[υ ἐπισκ]όπου

        καὶ τοῦ[το] τὸ [ἔργον]

        τῆς ψηφώ[σε]ως [ἐ-]

        γέν[ε]τ⟨ο⟩ ἐν μη[νὶ]

8      Δί[ου] το[ῦ] ειχ´ ἔ[τους]

        [ἰνδ]ι[κ(τιῶνος)] πέμ⟨π⟩της.

Translation: 

In the days of the most God-loving and most saintly bishop John, also this work of the mosaic was done, in the month of Dios of the year 615, fifth indiction.

Given date: 
year
month
indiction
Date: 
27 November - 26 December 511
Summary: 

Dated building inscription commemorating the completion of mosaic work under John, bishop of Azotos, December 511.

Contents
Actions: 
the work was done
Definitions of building/part of building: 
psephosis,psephotheteia (mosaic)
Ecclesiastical titles: 
bishop
Epithets of clergy/monks: 
God-loving (theophiles)
most saintly (hosiotatos)
Personal names: 
Ioannes
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
stigma, horizontal stroke for abbreviation and numeral