ANCIENT CHURCH DISCOVERED
Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a 1,300-year-old Christian church that is a short distance from the traditional site of Jesus’ transfiguration. The church, about 118 feet by 39 feet, includes “ornate mosaic floors” and was recently found in an excavation in the Israeli village of Kfar Kama, which is about a two-hour drive north of Jerusalem. Kfar Kama is a few miles from Mount Tabor, which Origen – a third-century theologian – said was the site of Jesus’ Transfiguration. The archaeological find was announced in a press release by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

POPE VISITS SUMMER CAMP
Eternity News reports that Pope Francis decided to take a little stroll from his place to visit the children attending the Vatican’s summer camps – much to the surprise of its organisers and attendees. After chatting to the kids about the day’s activities and checking they were happy, Pope Francis greeted each of the 22 camp counsellors, posed for a group photo with everyone, then set off on his walk home.

CHRISTIAN PRODUCTION COMPANY
Antonio Sabato Jr., a conservative Christian actor best known for his role in “General Hospital” in the ‘90s, is launching his own production company aimed to help creative professionals who have been blacklisted by Hollywood for their religious or political beliefs, according to the Christian Post.

CHURCH OFFLINE
According to Eternity News, the Barna research group reports that 32 per cent of “practising Christians” in the United states have stopped attending church online during the COVID-induced lockdown. They note that a small number of these people may be attending church physically but add “we can, for the most part, confidently interpret this group as those who have dropped out of church for the time being.”

HAGIA SOPHIA
Turkish President Erdoğan has invited Pope Francis to the former Byzantine-era church, Hagia Sophia, after the government was given the go-ahead to convert it into a functioning mosque. News of Erdoğan’s decision to invite a number of special guests to the Hagia reopening comes as officials warn that the historic Christian mosaics and iconography that adorn the walls will be covered up by curtains during times of Islamic prayer. Premier Christian News reports that the move to convert the building to a mosque was condemned by the heads of the Greek Orthodox Church along with many senior clergy across the globe.

FOOD OR FAITH
Open Doors UK and Ireland told Premier Christian News that it has been “inundated” with reports of Christians worldwide who are being asked to renounce their faith in exchange for emergency Covid-19 aid. Christians from countries including Bangladesh, India, Sudan and Malaysia, say they are facing an ultimatum. A pastor in Western Sudan is quoted as saying, “When Christian converts do ask for help from their Muslim community, they are told they have to give up Christianity if they want to be helped. It is a tragedy.”