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Ancient Christian Site in UAE Opens to Visitors

  •   Tue, Dec 14 2010 06:26:07 PM

Ancient Christian Site in UAE Opens to Visitors

Dubai, Dec 14 (AFP): A 1,400-year-old monastery that is the only known pre-Islamic Christian site in the United Arab Emirates has opened to visitors, The National newspaper reported on Sunday.

The monastery on Sir Bani Yas island in Abu Dhabi emirate is "believed to be the only permanent settlement ever established on the island" and "the only pre-Islamic Christian site known in the UAE," it said.

It is believed to have been built around 600 AD by a community of 30-40 monks and was discovered in 1992, said the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Development Company which is developing the island.

Dr Joseph Elders, the chief archaeologist for the Church of England, is leading the team excavating the site, the company said in a statement.

"Twenty years ago, we had no idea that Christians came this far south and east" in the Gulf region, The National quoted Elders as saying. "We don't have many monasteries from this period."

The people who lived at the monastery probably belonged to the "Nestorian Church, or Church of the East," it said, adding that the settlement was abandoned after about 750 AD.

It opened to the public on Saturday.
  

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Comment on this article

  • arunzak, mudigere

    Wed, Dec 15 2010

    I Completely agree with Mr A.S. Mathew

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ivan J Saldanha., Mangalore

    Tue, Dec 14 2010

    Indeed it is a great effort on the UAE and all concerned to effect an exposure of the historical Christian past in the region of the Gulf.
    Appreciable.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Tue, Dec 14 2010

    There is a special magnetism in
    the counry of U.A.E., because
    in a very short span of time, she
    became an internationally known
    place for people to live and
    work in peace.

    The U.A.E. rulers had the right
    vision and focusing about the
    country's future by extending
    maximum liberty for the non-Muslim
    expatriates to exercise their
    faith without any fear.

    Now, the U.A.E. is opening another
    great chapter by opening an
    historically important Christian
    site of 1400 years old, to the
    visitors.

    It is highly commendable: and hearty
    congratulations in the goodwill
    displayed to create more closeness with the "cousin religion Christianity".

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Max & Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore/Houston, Texas

    Tue, Dec 14 2010

    Great and noble task and undertaking on the part of the UAE authorities to reveal the history of the ancient Christian site in the UAE. This kind of thought and deed demonstrates the open mindedness of the people of the region to make the public know that we all belong to the "SMALL WORLD - A BEAUTIFUL WORLD". History has so much to uhfold the religious and cultural past that will enable people to appreciate one another and help each other in order to uphold our values and beleifs. God bless the United Arab Emirate for all that they contribute to the world of peace. "Assalamaalekhum" and Qudha Afeiz.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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