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. Unlike most reliquaries, which are found open or in pieces, the example from Lystra was riveted from the inside and sealed.
According to Assoc. Prof. İlker Mete Mimiroğlu, head of the excavation team and a member of the faculty at Necmettin Erbakan University, the reliquary cross was meant to be worn as a necklace and features motifs rather than human figures.
This stylistic design aligns with certain medieval Christian traditions and provides clues about medieval devotional practices. Although the cross was not opened during examination, surface observations suggest that it does not contain physical religious relics.
This discovery underscores Lystra’s significance as a multi-layered field of study, extending beyond archaeology to include theological, cultural, and historical dimensions, and it contributes to a renewed understanding of early Christian heritage in Anatolia.
Excavations are currently being conducted at the site under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s approved direction, in cooperation with Necmettin Erbakan University and with support from local authorities.
Sources : AA
