1,300-Year-Old Baptism Bowl Found in Golan Church Ruins 

IFCJ Canada  |  April 17, 2026

Hippos, now part of the Golan Heights, was once a thriving Christian city with churches, an aqueduct, a theater, and a public hall. For centuries, it was part of the Roman Byzantine Empire. Even after it was conquered in 641 C.E., Christians were still allowed to practice their faith, and the churches remained standing. In 749 C.E., the city was abandoned following a major earthquake in the region. The Times of Israel reports that a marble bowl found in the ruins of one of these churches offers insight into some of those practices. 

According to lead author Michael Eisenberg, co-director of excavation at Hippos, one of the artifacts, a marble item with three round indentations, has no known parallel and could offer new insights into unique baptismal practices in the ancient Byzantine city. 

“Hippos was the main Christian city on that side of the Sea of Galilee, an area very connected to the ministry of Jesus in the region,” Eisenberg told The Times of Israel over the telephone. “We have recorded seven churches in Hippos. The largest of these churches, the cathedral, was also the seat of a bishop.” 

All of the churches were built between the fifth and the early sixth centuries C.E. 

Eisenberg noted that none of the other churches contained a baptistry like the one where the bowl was found. Given the presence of a bishop in the city, it is likely that Christians travelled from across the region to be baptized in Hippos. He also added that this baptistry is the largest one ever discovered in Israel. 

The cathedral, first uncovered more than 70 years ago, was found to have two baptismal halls — one to the north and one to the south. Archaeologists observed that the northern hall is much larger and includes steps leading up to the baptismal font, suggesting it was used for adult baptisms, while the smaller southern hall was likely used for infants. 

Other items discovered by Eisenberg and his team include a bronze candelabrum and a box for relics of venerated saints. The marble bowl was found in the baptism font of the southern hall.