Latest news with #TheLord'sPrayer
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Mystery of 200-year-old runes found in Canada finally cracked
The runes, numbering 255 in total, were discovered in 2018 when a tree fell and exposed a carefully carved inscription in Ontario, Canada, just 155 miles from the US border Archaeologists have finally cracked a 200 year old code etched into a remote Canadian rock, leaving researchers gobsmacked. The 255 enigmatic symbols were unearthed in 2018 when a tree toppled over and revealed a meticulously carved inscription near the small town of Wawa in Ontario, just 155 miles from the US border in Michigan, according to MailOnline. Now, after years of scrutiny, archaeologist Ryan Primrose from the Ontario Centre for Archaeological Education has disclosed that the markings are actually the Lord's Prayer - penned entirely in Swedish using ancient Nordic runes. The religious message was an unexpected discovery in the Canadian wilderness. However, further probing unveiled that Swedish workers had once been enlisted by the Hudson's Bay Company to staff isolated trading posts in the 1800s - suggesting one of them as the probable author of the carving. With no other artefacts discovered at the site, experts reckon it may have served as a modest outdoor place of worship for the Scandinavian settlers, reports the Express. During the 19th century, the Hudson's Bay Company - a massive British fur trading network - was expanding swiftly across North America. To staff remote locations in Canada's interior and the Pacific Northwest, they frequently turned to recruits from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. What is the mysterious slab Mystery surrounds a stone slab found in Manitoba, Canada, featuring ancient carvings within a precise square border three feet by four. Accompanying the inscriptions is an image of a boat circled by 16 figures - thought to represent Swedes travelling to Canada long ago. Primrose shared with CBC that the slab seemed purposefully buried. "There were ruins covered by about six inches of soil," he recounted. Although the wear on the stone hints it might hail from several centuries past, evidence points to Swedish speakers in the area just two centuries ago. Henrik Williams, emeritus professor at Uppsala University, Sweden, highlighted the rarity of runic inscriptions: "Any runic inscription is rare. Someone put all this effort into this particular text and you wonder why. The mystery does not decrease just because of its age." Emphasising his caution, Primrose revealed his delay in announcing the find until the translation was certain. "This is certainly among the least expected finds I have encountered in my career," he conceded. What is The Lord's Prayer? The Lord's Prayer is familiar to Christians worldwide, found in the New Testament in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, summarising vital Christian teachings from begging for daily bread to the significance of pardon and eschewing sin. In the early Christian tradition, it was imparted to new converts and recited during worship. Over time, it became a central part of liturgy across all major branches of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant - earning itself the nickname of the perfect prayer. Translated into numerous languages, the version of the prayer found in Canada is in Swedish, reflecting both religious devotion and cultural identity. Although the Bible was translated into Swedish in 1541, scholars suggest that the use of runes in this inscription might have been a way to honour Scandinavia's linguistic heritage - a remarkable fusion of faith and history etched into stone, waiting to be discovered.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mysterious carving found in northern Ontario wilderness
Seven years ago, a tree fell over in the northern Ontario bush and exposed an archeological mystery that researchers are still trying to understand. Found carved into the bedrock, not far from the town of Wawa, were 255 symbols arranged in a square about 1.2 metres by 1.5 metres, and next to it, there is carved a picture of a boat with 16 people on it, as well as 14 Xs. Photos of the discovery made their way to Ryan Primrose, an archeologist based in New Liskeard and the director of the Ontario Centre for Archeological Education. "Well it's certainly among the least expected finds that I think I've encountered during my career. It's absolutely fascinating," he said. Primrose has been working on the carvings since 2018 and is now talking about it publicly for the first time. "We didn't want to release information publicly until we had done as much as we could at the time to understand exactly what it was," he said. Primrose quickly realized the 255 characters were Nordic runes, part of a language known as Futhark that was used in Scandinavia in centuries past. He was worried some would jump to conclusions that these were carved by Vikings more than a millennium ago. That's why he sought the help of Henrik Williams, an emeritus professor at Uppsala University in Sweden and a leading expert in runology. He came to analyze the well-worn carvings on a drizzly cold October day several years ago. "I was under a tarpaulin for three hours with a flash light, looking at the runes and the others were sitting outside freezing," Williams said. "And I came out with this reading." He realized that the runic writing spelled out the words of The Lord's Prayer in Swedish and traced it back to a 1611 runic version of the prayer, which was republished in the 19th century. "It must have taken days and days of work. They are really deeply carved into the rock. Someone must have spent a couple of weeks carving this thing," Williams said. "And this must have been a Swede. Were there any Swedes at all here?" Primrose said subsequent research has shown that the Hudson's Bay Company did hire Swedes in the 1800s to work at trading posts in the Canadian wilderness, including the Michipicoten post, not too far from where the carving was found. He says his going theory, based on how worn the carving is, is that it was likely made in the early to mid-1800s. Williams admits to being "a little disappointed" that it's only about 200 years old, but says "the mystery around it doesn't decrease just because it's slightly younger than we hoped it was." "Anybody has to start wondering 'Why on Earth did they carve it here and why did they choose that text?' And there's no answers," he said. "But mysteries, they do tend to attract people and this one will certainly do that." Primrose speculates this carving could have been a spot for religious worship, perhaps a gathering place for Swedes who worked at the trading post, or the solitary work of one person. He says the carving was found under several inches of soil and it was likely deliberately buried, but no other artifacts were found in the area which makes it "difficult to tell what's going on." Working with the property owner, Primrose has applied for a lease hold on the land and is hoping to get funding to develop the site into a historical tourist attraction, including a structure over the carving to protect it from further wear. He hopes to have those plans formalized by the end of the summer and then give the public a chance to ponder the mysterious carving in person.
The Irish Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Brits recognise extract from the Lord's Prayer over famous line from Star Wars, reveals poll
AN extract from the Lord's Prayer is more recognisable than a famous line in Star Wars, according to a poll. More people also identified 3 Archbishop of York says The Lord's Prayer remains a 'steady guide' that still resonates with people of all faiths and none Credit: PA Some 80.3 per cent knew ' It beat the 79.9 per cent recognising ' 'To be or not to be' from Shakespeare play Hamlet was identified by 73 per cent. Some 63 per cent matched 'happy and glorious, long to reign over us' with God Save The King in the Church of England's poll of 2,000-plus people. READ MORE UK NEWS Mr Cottrell is leading a "tour" of events at churches and cathedrals across the north of England as part of his Faith In The North initiative, with a focus on the prayer. He said: "These results reflect what we've been hearing across the north of England through our Faith In The North initiative, which invites people to explore the Lord's Prayer. "Lines like 'Give us this day our daily bread' speak powerfully to today's challenges, reminding us to seek sufficiency, not excess, and to consider what 'enough' truly means." Most read in The Sun Scottish Star Wars superfan's dream comes true after coming to rescue of show 3 3 More Brits recognised a line from the Lord's Prayer than 'May the Force be with you' from Star Wars, according to a new poll Credit: Alamy WHAT ARE THE WORDS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER The contemporary Lord's Prayer reads as follows: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
The Independent
28-02-2025
- The Independent
‘Thou shalt not steal' painting stolen from village church
A church warden has urged a thief who swiped a painting of the Ten Commandments, containing the directive 'Thou shalt not steal', to return the artwork. Three Victorian murals were taken from the wall from the Grade II-listed St Andrew's Church in an overnight raid in the sleepy parish of Little Steeping, Lincolnshire, before 23 February. The paintings, all in heavy wooden frames, depict The Lord's Prayer and Moses giving the commandments and could fetch £300 each on an open market. The church warden fears the thief posed as a visitor during daylight open hours and unlocked a side door so they could sneak back in overnight. Dirty footmarks left on the carpet provide the only clue to the suspected raider who also made off with an extension cable. Church warden Basil Harwood told The Independent: 'Isn't it ironic? One of the murals was the Ten Commandments which says 'Thou shalt not steal'. It's absolutely crazy. 'It's disturbing someone can come in and take something of a sacred nature.' The warden believes the burglary could be linked to another church theft in nearby St Mary's, West Keal last week which saw vandals snatch a tapestry, burn a sign and smash a crucifix. Police are yet to link the church raids. Mr Harwood added: 'We are lucky in that nothing has been destroyed. There were other items lying around that could also have been taken. 'It seems they came in during opening hours and removed a security bar to another door that is rarely used and hidden behind a curtain. 'The only clue is dirty footprints left in the carpeted areas that definitely weren't there before.' Addressing the church raider directly: 'Please have the common decency to return them to where they came from - undamaged. 'I hope they develop a conscience and then maybe they want to do something about it.' He said he was determined to keep the church open to visitors throughout the day despite the thefts because 'it is the right thing to do'. 'We have to be more vigilant at certain times, especially when we go to lock up. But we are determined to keep our faith strong despite these annoyances,' he said. A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said it is not clear when the theft took place before it was discovered by cleaners on Sunday, 23 February. He said: 'There were no signs of damage caused to the church itself. 'If you know where they might be, or have seen them for sale or offered in another way on social media sites such as Facebook Marketplace, please get in touch with the details you have. 'We would like to find the person responsible and locate the paintings to return them to the church and the congregation.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Thou shalt not steal' painting stolen from church
Police are appealing for information after paintings were stolen from a village church. Lincolnshire Police said three pictures were taken from St Andrew's Church in Main Road, Little Steeping sometime before 23 February. The force said there was no damage to the church. The paintings, in heavy wooden frames, include the text of The Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. Investigators said the value of the stolen artworks was unknown, but they "have sentimental value to the church and its members". Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Church vandals steal tapestry and break cross Churches advised to review security following thefts Lincolnshire Police
