Church/Monastery name:
al-ʻAraj; Bethsaida - Church of the Apostles
Inscription number:
2
Location:
In a medallion in the center of the nave.
Text:
1 (cross) Ἐν χρόνοις (cross)
2 τοῦ δεσπότου ἡμῶν
3 τοῦ ἁγιοτάτου π(ατ)ρ(ὸ)ς
4 [καὶ] ἐπισκόπου ἡμῶν
5 - - - ἀνεν‹ε›ώθη
- - - - - - -
Translation:
In the times of our master and most holy father and bishop [- - - the church (or this place/building)] was renovated …
Date:
Second half of the 5th century or the early 6th c.
Summary:
Fragmentary six-lines inscription in a medallion in the center of the nave.
The letters, 7-8 cm high, belong to the oval alphabet. Eta and mu are ligated in line 2 (Η͜ΜωN). Notably, just one abbreviation is used, π(ατ)ρ(ό)ς marked with a horizontal stroke in line 3 (Π̅̅Ρ̅Ϲ), while ἁγιοτάτου and ἐπισκόπου are written in full – a characteristic of either an early (5th century) or a late date (7th-8th centuries) within the Byzantine period. A date in the second half of the 5th century or the early 6th can be tentatively suggested.