A recent archaeological discovery in the ancient city of Olympus, located in Turkey’s Antalya province, has uncovered a powerful reminder of early Christian faith — a 1,600-year-old church with an entrance inscription that reads: “Only those on the righteous path may enter here.”

 

Buried for over a millennium, the fifth-century Christian church was unearthed by Turkish archaeologists working in the ruins of the ancient Lycian port city. The city of Olympus, which thrived through the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, was abandoned by the 12th century, leaving many of its secrets hidden until now.

 

Excavator Gokcen Kurtulus Oztaskin, an associate professor at Pamukkale University, told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency that the excavation has yielded remarkable finds in recent years, but this one stands out.

 

“In 2017, 2022 and 2023, we discovered richly decorated mosaic floors at the sites we worked on,” Oztaskin explained. “This year, we uncovered and restored the floor mosaics of Church No. 1.”

 

Among those colorful mosaics, one discovery stunned the team — an inscription at the church entrance that delivers a sobering message: “Only those on the righteous path may enter here.” The message has not been seen for more than a thousand years.

 

The warning, set in stone, reflects the seriousness with which early Christians viewed the sacredness of the church. Worship was not something to be entered into lightly — the threshold was a line not just of stone, but of spiritual significance.

 

In addition to the warning, the floor mosaics also included vegetable motifs, a popular artistic expression during the period, and bore the names of benefactors who supported the church. Their presence hints at a once-flourishing Christian community supported by a well-off class of believers.

 

Excavators also uncovered other fascinating structures in the city, including a possible temple, several churches, a bridge, and the ruins of what appears to have been the Bishop’s Palace. Other major finds include the Antimakhos sarcophagus and the Monumental Tomb of Marcus Aurelius Archepolis, offering further insight into Olympus’ long and layered history.

The church’s bold message is being unearthed at a time when interest in Christianity’s roots is growing worldwide. From ancient Christian symbols discovered in Jordan to early inscriptions north of the Alps, archaeology continues to affirm the early Church’s wide reach and deep devotion.

 

While the ruins of Olympus may be silent, the voice of faith still echoes through its stones. The inscription — clear and timeless — reminds us that righteousness isn’t just a religious ideal but a requirement for approaching God’s presence.

 

As Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

 

Even after 1,600 years, the message remains the same: Holiness matters.

 

For the believers who once walked through that ancient doorway in Turkey, it wasn’t just a church; it was sacred ground.