Entrance to Church

Entrance to Church

View looking east at the entrance to the Church of Saint John (the Baptist).  The church is located on the southern slope of the citadel at Samaria.  A late Christian tradition associates the finding of John the Baptist's Head with Sebaste.

The church was originally built in the sixth century AD and was rebuilt in the eleventh.

The Arabic graffiti on the lintel is part of the Shahadi "there is no god but god" while the red Arabic on the door posts are to be read together "Allah Akbar."

For general comments and a map of Samaria/Sebaste click here.