Ashdod Yam (Azotos Paralios) - Church of the Deaconesses
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Ashdod Yam (Azotos Paralios)
Church name:
Church of the Deaconesses
Functional Type:
Unknown
Dedication:
unknown
Church type:
Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
164,676.00
632,108.00
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:
Epigraphy
Archaeological remains
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
A. Fantalkin and S. Ganor | Aug. 2017 |
A. Fantalkin | July-Aug. 2019, 2021 |
History:
Add to bibliography:
Habas, L. 2023. “Symbols of Faith in the Mosaic Floors of the Newly Discovered Ecclesiastical Complex at Ashdod Maritima, Israel.” Journal of Mosaic Research (16): 251–267. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.1376813
Di Segni, L., L. Bouzaglou, and A. Fantalkin. 2023. “A Recently Discovered Church at Ashdod-Yam (Azotos Paralios) in Light of Its Greek Inscriptions.” Liber Annuus 72: 399–447. https://doi.org/10.1484/J.LA.5.134545
Yaniv Darvasi, Alexander Fantalkin, Paul Brindza & Amotz Agnon (2024) An early Byzantine ecclesiastical complex at Ashdod-Yam: correlating geophysical prospection with excavated remains, STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, 10:1, 2360337, DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2024.2360337
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:
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:
2
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.
See also under attached northern chapel.
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 aisle. The mosaic in this part is sunken, as there is a burial locus under it.
Attached structures
Att structures photos and planes:
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 standing marble plates (now broken). It may mark the location of a sarcophagus. To its south there is a hole in the floor, seemingly to permit contact with an underlying relic.
Burial room or chapel:
Apsidal chapel
Burial room or chapel description:
See above - prothesis chapel, and below - Martyrs chapel.
Martyrs chapel:
Apsidal chapel
Martyrs chapel description:
See above - prothesis chapel.
A place for the cult of relics was delineated by marble screens (now entirely broken), near the SE corner of the chapel. A sarcophagus might have been located there. A circular hole in the floor enable contact with a underground relic.
Architectural Evolution
| Phase name (as published) | General outline | Dating material | Iconoclastic evidence | Phase no. | Century | Within century |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 | The earliest dated inscription is dated to 416 CE, suggesting that the basilica was built in the early 5th c. | A dated inscription. | Phase 1 | 5th c. | Early | |
Phase 2 | The northern chapel was added to the basilica some time around the mid 5th c. A small apse was installed there somewhat later. | Phase 2 | 5th c. | Mid | ||
Phase 3 | 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. | Epigraphy; dated inscriptions. | Phase 3 | 6th c. | ||
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. | Abandonment | 7th c. | Early |
Post Arab conquest history:
Abandoned