Cripta şi bazilica de la Niculiţel - simboluri ale prezenţei creştinismului la nord de Balcani
The crypt and church from Niculiţel – symbols of Christian presence to the north of Balkans

Summary/Abstract: The monument was discovered accidentally in 1971 and was the object of several archaeological excavation campaigns. The martyr crypt from Niculiţel, built from brick, is divided into two small rooms, one on top of another. In the upper room were found four whole martyrs relics, situated into a common coffin, made of wood, according to the orthodox known tradition, with the hands and the head west-oriented. All the martyrs had their heads cut; three of them were put in their places, while the fourth was put on the martyr’s chest. Three inscriptions were discovered on the walls of the crypt: “Here and there is martyr’s blood”, “Christ’s martyrs” and the last with the names of the four martyrs: “Zottikos, Attalos, Philippos, Kamasis”.The archaeological and anthropological investigations established that their martyr act occurred during Emperor Diocletian’s persecutions in 303-304 A.D. Today, the holly remains are placed at the Monastery of Cocos, Tulcea County.

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