"At Topraktepe, the site of ancient Eirenopolis in Turkey, researchers discovered five carbonized loaves, one bearing a portrait of Jesus and an ancient Greek inscription reading, 'With our thanks to Blessed Jesus.' The work, conducted under the direction of the Karaman Museum Directorate, made it possible to recover these fragile organic remains thanks to a natural carbonization process. Exposure to fire under specific conditions of temperature and lack of oxygen preserved the loaves."
"Researchers have identified it as the 'Sower Jesus' or 'Farming Jesus,' emphasizing a connection between faith, daily labor, and the fertility of the land. This rare iconography offers an unprecedented glimpse into how early Christians in provincial Anatolia envisioned Christ in a deeply human and agrarian context. The other four loaves feature cross-shaped imprints, further suggesting they were used in early Christian rituals as Eucharistic or communion bread."
Archaeologists excavated five carbonized loaves at Topraktepe, ancient Eirenopolis in Turkey, dating to about 1,300 years ago. One loaf bears a portrait of Jesus and an ancient Greek inscription reading 'With our thanks to Blessed Jesus.' Natural carbonization from fire under low-oxygen conditions preserved the loaves with exceptional detail, allowing recovery of fragile organic remains. Experts describe the finds as among the best-documented examples in Anatolia. Researchers identify the portrait as the 'Sower Jesus' or 'Farming Jesus', linking Christ imagery to daily labor and land fertility. The other four loaves have cross-shaped imprints, indicating use in Eucharistic or communion rituals. The iconography symbolizes divine blessing on agricultural work, hope for bountiful harvests, and spiritual redemption tied to sustenance.
Read at Mail Online
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