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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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Catholics and Oriental Christians debating. 	Source: Public Domain

What Caused the Christian Church’s Great Schism? (Video)

The Great Schism, a pivotal event in Christian history during the 11th century, was primarily fueled by profound theological disagreements and longstanding political tensions. At the heart of the...
Sunset view of the Simonopetra (Greek for "Simon's Rock") Monastery, on the southern coast of the Athos peninsula. Source: Athanasios Serafeim distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu / CC BY 3.0

This Mountain Has Been Home to Monks for 12 Centuries (Video)

Nestled on a Greek peninsula stands Mount Athos , a venerable sanctuary for Christian Orthodox adherents. For over twelve centuries, this remote haven has hosted monks in a timeless rhythm. Its...
Timkat. Source: Wallpaper Flare / CC by SA.

The Challenging Rituals of Ethiopia’s Christian Timkat Ceremony (Video)

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is a unique branch of Christianity that traces its roots back to the earliest days of the faith . For those who follow this ancient religion, the annual Timkat ceremony...
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, St. Petersburg, Russia. The 18th century cathedral is the final resting place of many members of the Russian royal family, including Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. Source: yulenochekk / Adobe Stock

Sacred Marvels: 17 Cathedrals That Will Take Your Breath Away, In Pictures

Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. These religious buildings are often the most...
Monastery in Meteora, Greece.

Meteora: Majestic Greek Monasteries Suspended in the Air

Meteora means ‘suspended in the air’ in Greek. This site is one of the largest and most important Greek Orthodox monastic complexes. It is located in the north-western edge of the Plain of Thessaly...
The Sumela Monastery, Turkey

The Thousand-Year History of the Spectacular Cliff Face Monastery of Sumela

The Sumela Monastery is one of the oldest and most historic monasteries in the Christian world. There are no exact records about when it was built or by who, but it is estimated that its history...
Fragment of Apocalypse of Peter, part of the Nag-Hammadi-Codex found in Egypt.

Professors Find Original Greek Copy of Jesus’ Teachings to James

Two biblical scholars from the University of Texas at Austin claim to have discovered the first-known original Greek copy of a heretical Christian writing that describes the secret teachings of Jesus...
The submerged St. Neophytos Basilica, Nicaea, Turkey.

Mysterious Underwater Ruins in Turkish Lake Found To Be A 1,600-Year-Old Basilica

Archaeologists were surprised to discover that “weird ruins” in a Turkish lake are actually a nearly 1,600-year-old basilica. Moreover, the city associated with the submerged church has been a key...
In the Market Square is Helsinki’s oldest public monument, the Tsarina’s Stone, topped by a globe and a double-headed eagle, the emblem used by the Tsars of Russia

The Double-Headed Eagle: An Everlasting Symbol of Power

The double-headed eagle has been a popular symbol associated with the concept of a powerful Empire. Most contemporary uses of the symbol are exclusively associated with its use by the Byzantine...
Carved into the rock face, with a plaster façade, is Abba Yohani Church

Hidden Religion: Abba Yohani and the Clandestine Cave Churches of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a land full of ancient relics. For example, the fossil remains of the earliest hominins were found in Ethiopia. The oldest stone tools known to have been intelligently manufactured by...
The Katskhi Pillar in Georgia.

Monk Lives Life of Solitude on This 131-Foot-Tall Rock with a 2,000 Year History

The Katskhi Pillar is the name given to a natural limestone column located in Georgia. On the top of this monolith is a monastery, which was built during the 1990s. Today, a solitary monk by the name...
Domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Why is the Holiest Shrine in Christianity Guarded by Two Muslim Families?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is considered to be the holiest site in Christianity. According to tradition, this was the place where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and...
The Red Monastery: Will the Last Byzantine Monument in Egypt Survive Local Development?

The Red Monastery: Will the Last Byzantine Monument in Egypt Survive Local Development?

It has been claimed that the Red Monastery, more specifically, its principal church, is one of three surviving examples of Byzantine architecture from the early period of that empire’s history, the...
Living Remnants of Early Christianity: The Mar Saba Monastery

Living Remnants of Early Christianity: The Mar Saba Monastery

Today, the predominant religion in the Middle East is Islam. Christianity, however, has also played an important role in the history of the Middle East and at one point was the largest religion in...
Two of the frescoes from the church, which is in a region of 200 underground villages and tunnel towns.

Archaeologists uncover underground church with scenes of the damned in Turkey

An underground Orthodox church carved into rock in Turkey with scenes of Jesus rising into the sky and the killing of bad souls has been discovered—the first of its kind with such paintings, says the...
Pope Gregory XIII, portrait by Lavinia Fontana (Public Domain) A Page from a 1584 version of the Gregorian Calendar.

New Year, Old Calendar: The Origins and Controversy of the Gregorian Calendar

The most commonly used civil calendar today is known as the Gregorian calendar, which is also called the Western calendar, or the Christian calendar. This calendar was named after Pope Gregory XIII,...
St John Stoudios

Largest Byzantine monastery in Istanbul to be converted into mosque

In a move that has attracted significant criticism and controversy, the St John Stoudios (Imrahor) Monastery in Turkey, the largest Byzantine monastery in Istanbul, will be converted into a mosque...