Archaeological notes on the recent discovery of a stunning hoard of coins from early Medieval Europe, recently unveiled - the West Norfolk Hoard – the largest collection of seventh-century gold coins found in Britain. These fascinating international coins come from a time when the kings of Western Christendom were only recognized as legitimate rulers, if they obtained recognition from the Christian Emperors of the East Roman Empire in Constantinople, where the Roman Empire continued to survive and thrive for another millennium. Take a good look at the coin in the center of the photo of this post. Is it not an icon of the Archangel Michael, as depicted in Orthodox icons even to this day? East or West, Christendom was one at that time. All Christians knew the exhortation of St. Peter: "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor" (1 Peter 2:17). We follow a wonderful group called "Anglo Saxon Chronicle" that has nearly 19,000 followers. This was just posted recently by one of its members: "The Kingdom of East Anglia "(Yesterday I was one of the very lucky first of the public to view this incredible discovery. This is the press release (well and abbreviated version) for it. But I may do some follow ups in a day or two) "Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery has received £217,200 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (Memorial Fund) and £101,000 from Art Fund and The Wolfson Foundation to acquire the West Norfolk Hoard – the largest collection of seventh-century gold coins found in Britain. The internationally significant hoard contains 129 gold coins, most of which are Frankish tremisses – solid gold coins minted in the Merovingian Frankish Kingdoms that occupied much of modern-day France, Germany, Switzerland and the Low Countries. These are the first coins made and used in Europe after the fall of the Roman empire and predate the first gold coinage made in Anglo-Saxon England. The West Norfolk hoard is one of only eight hoards of this coin type known from Europe and only the third from the UK. Experts say the hoard will help transform our understanding of the early English economy and European trade and exchange networks. The hoard is exceptional due to its size and the variety of the coins it contains. Of the 129 coins, there are 118 different coin designs and 51 different European mints represented, as well as ten coins from Byzantium, including two from Constantinople. Prior to its discovery, the largest hoard of coins of this period was a purse containing 101 coins discovered at Crondall in Hampshire in 1828, while the famous ship burial from Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, excavated in 1939, included a purse of 37 gold coins. Declared Treasure by the Coroner’s court in November 2021, acquisition of this extraordinary find for a public museum means it will remain intact and accessible to researchers and visitors to Norwich Castle where the hoard has just gone on display in the newly reopened Anglo-Saxon and Viking Gallery. The hoard appears to have been buried in about 610AD, based on the date of the latest coins. In addition to the tremisses, the hoard also contains nine gold solidi – a larger coin from the Byzantine empire worth three tremisses – and four other gold objects. These other items – a gold bracteate (a Scandinavian type of pendant), a small gold ingot, and two pieces of scrap gold which were probably originally parts of jewellery – suggest that the coins should be seen also as a collection of bullion, valued by weight rather than face value. The geographical spread of the coins contained in the hoard points to the international connections of the English elite at the time. For instance, two coins, one from Huys in Belgium and another from Sion in Switzerland, are identical to coins buried in the Sutton Hoo ship. This has the potential to transform our understanding of the economic conditions of the period as Dr Tim Pestell, Senior Curator of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, explains: “This internationally significant find reflects the wealth and Continental connections enjoyed by the early Kingdom of East Anglia. Study of the hoard and its find spot has the potential to unlock our understanding of early trade and exchange systems and the importance of west Norfolk to East Anglia’s ruling kings in the seventh century.”.....” #OrthodoxChurch #archaeology #numismatics #medievalhistory #earlymedieval #anglosaxon #orthodoxeurope #Constantinople #EastRomanEmpire #OrthodoxFaith #westernorthodoxy (fb)

Looking for something wonderful to do this weekend? Consider going to the Marin Greek Festival, which is being held this coming weekend by our friends at Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church (https://www.nativityofchrist.org/) in Novato, California, in Marin County: https://www.facebook.com/maringreekfestival I have served at this grace-filled parish on a number of joyful occasions in the past. The church has an amazing location, with a commanding view of the city of Novato beneath them in three directions. The Byzantine-style church is very beautiful, having been built primarily by the members of this marvelous "church of contractors", who volunteered their time and skills many years ago to "make the church happen." Our good friends, Rose Kamages and her brother Christ Kamages, a renowned architect, who has been designing authentic, traditional Byzantine churches throughout America and Canada for decades, will be on hand, since this is their parish. The parish has a phenomenal, massive and extensive deck, designed to circumvent and preserve ancient oak trees, that you simply must see to believe. Accomplished and authentic Greek dance groups will be on hand with authentic Greek folk music. Let us not also fail to mention the legendary Greek cuisine that will be abundantly present for your enjoyment, which is not only delicious, but healthy, because Greek cuisine is the "Mediterranean Diet" par excellence! I am also tremendously indebted to this wonderful parish personally, because its Christian-hearted rector, Fr. John Kocolas, and Priest Emeritus, Fr. Constantine Efstathiu, took such compassionate pastoral care of my late brother, the former priest Anthony Scott, who fell asleep in the Lord last year. I pray for the tremendous success of their Marin Greek Festival. I am keenly aware of how hard and sacrificially all their parishioners have labored over the past year to make their festival this coming weekend a success. May God bless them in every way! It is a parish well worth supporting, if you would like to enjoy their festivities this weekend! - https://www.facebook.com/maringreekfestival 2025 Marin Greek Festival is being held this coming Memorial Day Weekend on: - Friday, May 23, 5 pm - 9 pm - Saturday, May 24, 11 am - 9 pm - Sunday, May 25, 11 am - 8 pm at 1110 Highland Drive, Novato, CA 94949 Shared by Father Abbot Stephen https://www.facebook.com/HolyCrossOrthodoxMonastery/ #MarinGreekFestival #GreekFestival #mediterraneanfood #GreekFood #GreekMusic #GreekDancing #nativityofchristgreekorthodoxchurch #Novato (fb)