The city of Emmaus Nicopolis

This historical site is believed to be the Biblical Emmaus, mentioned in Luke 24:13. A place outside Jerusalem, where Cleopas and another disciple met the risen Christ. It is mentioned for the first time in 166-165 B.C., when Judas Maccabeus defeated there the army of Gorgias (I Macc 3: 40; 4:25). Described also several times by the first century Jewish Historian, Josephus. At least 5 more candidates are suggested for the Biblical Emmaus. However, testimonies from church fathers like Eusebius and Jerome (4th cent AD) and the archaelogical remains of a Christian basilica from the 3rd century, another basilica from the 6th century and a 12th century Crusader church discovered here, support the historical and traditional claims for this site. Emmaus was a Roman city from the 3rd century until the Arab conquest in 639 and then known as Nicopolis. After the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, Emmaus was known as "Amwas" or "Imwas. Imwas was captured by the Israel Defence Forces during the six-day-war on June 7, 1967 and the village was later converted into a park. Today the holy place of Emmaus is under the control of Carmelites. Archaeological excavations reveal remains of the crusader and Byzantine churches once stood here and Jewish burial caves from 1st century AD. The mosaics discovered from these ancient churches are displayed in the Emmaus museum. One can also see ossuaries (burial box) from first century AD in the museum. Near the museum there is a small yet a beautiful modern church which I guess belongs to the Greek Orthodox community.