By Archaeologists in southern Turkey have uncovered five small round loaves — believed to have been used for the Eucharist — that date back more than 1,300 years, one of which bears a striking image of Jesus Christ.
The discovery was made in Topraktepe, the ancient Roman and Byzantine settlement of Irenopolis — meaning “City of Peace” — located in the present-day province of Karaman, within the historic region of Anatolia.
The loaves, made of barley and dating from the sixth to eighth centuries, survived in extraordinary condition thanks to carbonization and the absence of oxygen in their burial environment. Researchers say they represent the best-preserved examples of early Christian bread ever found in Anatolia, according to Aleteia.
One of the loaves depicts the figure of Jesus Christ accompanied by the Greek inscription, “With our gratitude to the Blessed Jesus.” Others display embossed reliefs in the form of a Greek cross. According to the Karaman governorship, the image represents “Jesus the Sower” or “Jesus the Farmer” — a rare portrayal distinct from the iconic Christ Pantocrator, who is typically shown enthroned and raising a hand in blessing while holding the Gospel.
Giovanni Collamati, a medieval historian at CEU San Pablo University in Madrid, explained the significance of the find in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. He noted that such depictions of Christ evolved with time and place, reflecting localized expressions of devotion.
Five 1,300-year-old bread loaves found preserved in ancient Eirenopolis in Turkey. One of the carbonised Byzantine loaves, which were very likely intended for use as communion bread, bears the image of Jesus and an inscription in Greek: ‘With our thanks to Blessed Jesus.’ pic.twitter.com/KEDTOGeKMO
— Gareth Harney (@OptimoPrincipi) October 12, 2025
The discovery took place in a city that was not important within the empire — such as Constantinople, Collamati said, suggesting it could offer rare insight into a “much more local liturgical worship that originates from people who do not belong to the elite but is a devotion much more of the common people,” explained the Catholic News Agency.
The excavation, conducted under the supervision of the Karaman Museum and Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will continue as experts analyze the loaves to better understand their origins and use in early Christian rituals.
