Ancient Garden Discovered Beneath Christ's Tomb!

Archeologists Find Evidence of Olive & Grape Vineyard Under The Church of the Holy Resurrection (More Evidence for the Historicity of the Gospel Accounts?)

An ancient garden has been found underneath the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem, the site of Christ’s burial and resurrection. The Israel Times is reporting,

“The presence of olive trees and grapevines was identified through archaeobotanical and pollen analysis on samples retrieved from the excavations under the floor of the ancient basilica. From the archaeological context and strata, it belongs to the pre-Christian era, however, radiocarbon testing has not yet been carried out.

“We know that the area was already part of the city at the time of Emperor Hadrian when the Romans built Aelia Capitolina,” said Prof. Francesca Romana Stasolla of the Sapienza University of Rome, referring to the Roman city erected on the ruins of Jerusalem in the first half of the 2nd century CE. “However, at the time of Jesus, the area was not part of the city yet.”¹

This new evidence corresponds well with the Gospel of John which describes the landscape between the Cross and the Tomb:

“They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there” (Gospel of John 19:40-42).

Ephesians Bible Study w/ Seraphim Hamilton (Paid Subscribers)

After Pascha (Easter), Seraphim Hamilton will be leading an exclusive course on the Book of Ephesians on Barrel Aged Faith for paid subscribers (only $5 a month!). Seraphim is not only well trained to lead such a study [M.A. in Early Christian Studies, University of Notre Dame (2019) Master of Theology (Th.M.), Duke University (2021)] but he also has a profound love for our Lord and those who have not encountered Him. Below is an interview I had with Seraphim last year. Please spread the word. If many people sign up, we hope to continue working through the New Testament from a Orthodox, patristic perspective (the mind of the church fathers).

What If I Struggle with Fasting During Lent?

I recently had the joy of doing a join stream with the channel/podcast called The Transfigured Life with Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff and Luther Mendard. At the end, Father answers questions live, and this is one of his many wonderful answers.

Who Is the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament?

Who was the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament? A created angel or the pre-incarnate Son? How does this connect to the Transfiguration of Christ and Moses' experience of the burning bush (glowing with the uncreated light)? Also, what are the implications for our own lives as Christians? Watch one of my latest live streams as I tackle this deep topic!

Lastly, you can read Dr. Corey Baker's Paper on St. Gregory Palamas' Theology of the Transfiguration as a way to renew the West here.

Life After Death Series (Paid Subscribers)

If you missed it, I am leading a series on the historic Catholic/Orthodox dialogue or debate over the intermediate state (called Purgatory by the Latin West). I have found there to be alot of misunderstandings on this topic in popular media and hope to make many clarifications from Scripture, the Fathers, Councils, and scholarship. So far I have posted 3 deep dive videos on this topic and several more are coming out over the next few weeks! Once we conclude, we will transition to C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”

Thank you all for the support and prayers over the years.

Be entirely His,
Kyle

1. https://www.timesofisrael.com/echoing-gospel-account-traces-of-ancient-garden-found-under-church-of-holy-sepulchre/