A Jew, a Samaritan and a Christian met in Byzantine Eretz Israel …
The Byzantine Empire - a Christian Empire from the first half of the 4th century - created a significant historical precedent: for the first time Palestine/ Eretz Israel stood at the cultural and religious heart of the Empire that ruled over it. But Eretz Israel was not empty: Jews, Samaritans and Pagans carried on living there.
Jews and Samaritans still perceived the country as their own, materially and ideologically, and struggled to preserve this historical continuity.

During the course we shall trace the political, religious, social and economic processes which reflect the efforts to Christianise the Holy Land, as well as the reactions of the Jews, Samaritans and Pagans, and their attempts to prevent Christianisation. We shall also look at mutual influences among these different ethnic and religious groups.