Christians in Pakistan are hopeful for restoration as 1,200 Years Old cross indicate Christianity was in the place before Islam
A gigantic cross, at least 1,200 years old has been discovered in the mountains of Pakistan and may contain indications of the early existence of Christianity in the place.
In the Himalayan mountains near Baltistan, a team from University of Baltistan, Skardu, found the marble cross weighing three to four tons and stretched seven feet from top to bottom, according to the Catholic Asian News Union.
The researchers discussed the findings at a press conference in mid-June.
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Adjacent to Afghanistan, Iran, India and China, Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country, with more than 96% of its citizens practicing Islam.
The Catholic organization Carats Pakistan celebrated the discovery of the 1,200 Years Old cross.
“It is really good news for all of us that an ancient cross has been found in Skardu,” said Mansha Noor, executive director of Caritas Pakistan.
“It shows that Christianity existed in the area and there must be a church and a Christian home. There are currently no Christian families in the area, but they were once there.
“I want the authorities to invite international historians to learn more about the exact history of the cross.”
Christians in Pakistan often face persecution for their faith. Beatrice Kesau, a Byzantine historian, told the Barnabus Fund, that there could be evidence that Middle Eastern traders brought good news to the region.
“Even if we have the resources to find out where they went, we know that Christians from the Persian world, using the Syrian language, came to Islam between the fifth and eighth centuries. Until then, they had come to the region of Sindh. “
Talking about the cross, a Pakistani Christian leader told the Barnabas Fund: “Praise the Lord, it makes me very happy. It will be a great encouragement for Christians in Pakistan to show that our faith has been with many generations before Islam came. This is amazing news! I am waiting to see what the results of the investigation will reveal about Christians in Pakistan.”
