CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. 1956-07-23. PORTION OF THE MOSAIC PAVEMENT (EAST END), ...

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. 1956-07-23. PORTION OF THE MOSAIC PAVEMENT (EAST END), ALL THAT REMAINS OF A 6TH CENTURY BYZANTINE CHURCH, WHICH WAS DISCOVERED BY AUSTRALIAN TROOPS NEAR SHELLAL, PALESTINE, ON THE 1917-04-17, DURING THE SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA. IT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED BY TURKISH TROOPS WHEN THEY WERE DIGGING A MACHINE GUN POST, AND UNFORTUNATELY A LARGE PORTION OF THE MOSAIC WAS DESTROYED DURING THE PROCESS. THE MOSAIC WAS REMOVED BY AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS WITH CONSIDERABLE SKILL AND UNDER MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND IT IS NOW ON EXHIBIT AT THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL. THE INSCRIPTION READS AS FOLLOWS:- "THIS CHURCH WAS DECORATED WITH RICH MOSAICS BY OUR MOST HOLY BISHOP AND THE MOST PIOUS GEORGE, PRIEST AND SACRISTAN, IN THE YEAR 622 ACCORDING TO THE ERA OF GAZA".