Boy Discovers 'Unique' Christian Pendant Covered in Gemstones
10-year-old boy accidentally discovered a "unique" Christian artifact that may be up to two centuries old.
Nehorai Nir made the find during a class trip earlier this month to Ein Karem, a historic hillside village that is west of Jerusalem and renowned for its centuries-old holy sites.
The village holds significant importance in Christianity as it is considered by tradition to be the birthplace of John the Baptist (Johannes der Täufer), a major figure in the religion. It is also identified with an event mentioned in the New Testament known as the Visitation, where the Virgin Mary is said to have met her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time.
The village is home to churches commemorating these events, including the Church of the Visitation and the Church of St. John the Baptist, making it an important pilgrimage site and drawing people from all over Europe.