Islam came to the region in the early seventh century, when the Muslim army defeated Jerusalem in 636. The outlet reported that the mosaic floors of the church were not damaged by iconoclasm — the destruction of religious images — even though Islam prohibits displaying icons and images in public.
The Times reported that the nave of the church is nearly fully preserved. The nave is the center part of the church where the laity prays, kneels, and praises during liturgy. An elaborate mosaic of vine braids and animal depictions covers the nave, The Times reported.
The Civil Administration said the church was constructed with materials that were not from the local area, including marble and black bitumen stone, the outlet reported.
The Civil Administration said it would have been a difficult task to transport those materials to the area, which indicates the builders of the church had wealth, the outlet reported.
A three-meter-long Greek inscription commemorating two public figures who donated to the construction of the church, Georgios and Nonus, was also found in the church, The Times reported.
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