Bronze reliquary cross unearthed in ancient Lystra

Bronze reliquary cross unearthed in ancient Lystra

A rare bronze reliquary cross has been discovered during excavations of a church complex in the ancient city of Lystra, located in the Meram district of Konya, central Türkiye. Lystra was one of the cities visited during the missionary journeys of Saint Paul and was instrumental in the spread of the Christian faith throughout Anatolia. According to experts, the cross, which consists of two components, dates from the 9th to 11th centuries AD. Unl…

Rare Sealed Medieval Reliquary Cross Discovered at Lystra Ancient City in Central Türkiye

Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Lystra in central Türkiye have restored a rare medieval bronze reliquary cross found intact and permanently sealed, offering important insights into early Christian devotional practices in Anatolia. Dating to between the 9th and 11th centuries, the cross was discovered in a burial area associated with a church and is considered exceptional because of its remarkable state of preservation.The find was …