The Byzantine Basilica of Bishop Isaiah in Jerash is one of Jordan’s most remarkable ancient churches. Discovered in 1983, this basilica exemplifies the religious and cultural richness of the Byzantine era in Jordan, when Jerash was part of the Decapolis –a prominent league of Hellenistic cities organized by Pompey the Great, where Christianity thrived in the first centuries of the common era. Built around 558/559 CE, this basilica is one of 23 Byzantine churches found in Jerash, underscoring the city’s reputation for architectural grandeur.
As with many other structures in Jerash —the famous “City of a Thousand Columns”—the basilica was built with materials from earlier Roman sites, highlighting a period when Roman influence was somewhat reimagined for and by a Christian community.
(Isaiah's historic basilica)
Its three naves are separated by Ionic columns, likely repurposed from the North Decumanus –the city’s main thoroughfare. This blending of Roman columns within a Christian space speaks to an era when Jerash adapted to both preserve its Roman legacy and embrace a Christian future –it is indeed a fascinating cultural palimpsest.
Inside, visitors can view a detailed mosaic floor, notably well-preserved despite the traces of an 8th-century iconoclastic movement, during which animal and human figures were removed. Originally, the basilica featured an atrium leading to three grand entrances, but over time, the main entry was moved to the south side, opening into a court with porticoes that welcomed worshippers and pilgrims from virtually everywhere in the region. Though parts of the pulpit and chancel remain unrestored, they do reveal the basilica’s original layout and purpose.
(Church mosaic floor in Jerash)
The endurance of this basilica along with Jerash’s other Byzantine churches into the Umayyad period underscores the diversity of the region. In fact, repairs to the basilica’s walls and roof were underway just before a major earthquake struck, leaving the city in ruins. Yet, the remains of Bishop Isaiah’s basilica allow today’s visitors to connect with a city that flourished as a vibrant intersection of cultures since its very inception.
Visiting the remains of the church of bishop Isaiah offers a glimpse of ancient architecture, but it is also an invitation to explore the spiritual heritage of Jerash –a city shaped by faiths, cultures, and the “thousand columns” that tell part of Jordan’s rich history.