FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Research Uncovers Possible Site of Early Christian Worship at Horvat Beit Loya

Orem, UT, April 8, 2024 – A new archaeological study presented at the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters (UASAL) sheds light on a mysterious cave in Israel that may have served as a secret place of worship for early Christians.

The research titled “Deciphering the ‘Jesus is Here’ Cave: Early Christian Worship, Sacred Space, and Hierophany at Horvat Beit Loya” explores a rock-cut cistern at the site of Horvat Beit Loya that was later transformed into a sacred Christian space. The cave features a Greek inscription reading “Jesus is here” or “Jesus is present,” a stylized cross-like Christogram, and an artistic depiction of a man standing in a boat with a raised right hand—imagery rich with theological symbolism.

Through archaeological, epigraphic, and ritual analysis, the study argues that the cave may have functioned as a hermitage, a location for Christian liturgical practices, or even a secret baptismal site during a time when Christian worship was often carried out in secrecy. The findings highlight a process of sanctification—transforming a utilitarian structure into a sacred space through inscriptions, iconography, and ritual use.

“This site offers compelling evidence of early Christian efforts to mark divine presence in the landscape,” said the study’s author Brandon Ro. “The phrase ‘Jesus is here’ carries a profound message of immanence and spiritual meaning. It reflects how early communities sanctified space through word, symbol, and worship.”

This research contributes to growing scholarship on sacred space formation in early Christianity and provides a new perspective on how ordinary environments were reimagined as places of spiritual power and presence.

The study was presented on March 22, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

About Brandon Ro:

Brandon R. Ro, AIA, NCARB, ICAA, is an esteemed researcher, architect, and professor at Utah Valley University. He specializes in architectural design, theory, and history. His work integrates architectural design with historical and cultural analysis, offering new perspectives on ancient structures.

Full Paper & Citation

Citation— Brandon R. Ro, “Deciphering the ‘Jesus is Here’ Cave: Early Christian Worship, Sacred Space, and Hierophany at Horvat Beit Loya.” Paper presented at the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters (UASAL) conference at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on March 22, 2025.

Abstract—This study reexamines the so-called “Jesus is Here” cave, a rock-hewn cistern at Horvat Beit Loya in Israel, that was later transformed into a sacred Christian site. The cave contains a Greek inscription reading “Jesus is here” or “Jesus is present,” a stylized cross-like Christogram, and an artistic depiction of a man standing in a boat with a raised right hand. These elements suggest that the site functioned as a place of religious significance, possibly serving as a hermitage, a location for early Christian liturgical practices, or even a secret place for baptism. The study contextualizes the inscription and iconography within the broader landscape of early Christian sacred spaces by drawing from archaeological, epigraphic, and ritual studies. Through comparative analysis with similar inscriptions and religious symbols in the region, the research explores the potential meanings of Christian hierophany—the manifestation of the sacred—at Beit Loya. The study concludes that the cave’s transformation from a utilitarian structure to a site of religious devotion aligns with broader patterns of sacred space formation in early Christianity. The inscription’s ambiguous yet powerful declaration of Jesus’ presence reflects theological concepts of divine immanence, ritual practice, and the sanctification of space.

Keywords—Early Christian architecture, Early Christian art, ritual studies, archaeology, hermeneutics

Acknowledgment— I would like to thank Alan Rudd from the Beit Lehi Foundation, Oren Gutfeld and Michal Haber from Hebrew University, and Darin Taylor, Robert Price, Michael Harper, Emily Hedrick, and Paul Cheney from Utah Valley University. Each provided additional resources, support, critical feedback, and encouragement on various aspects of this project. I am also grateful to my UVU students who helped with various aspects of this larger project: Jayne Lee, Thomas Cryer, Joseph Laudie, Yan-Ho Ng, Kent Miller, Hailey Packard, Hayden Fleming, Bronwyn Brown, Benjamin Chandler, Tyler Hansel, Emily Pederson, and my 2023 ARC 4110 class.

Presentation

Prof. Ro’s conference presentation can be viewed below: