English: Sketch of doorway surmounted by a lintel with an ancient Greek inscription at the medieval castle in
Mejdel Yaba in 1850.
The discovery of a Greek inscription was made by James Finn, British Consul in Jerusalem. He visited the village and castle at Mejdal Yaba in 1850.
When surveying a church attached to the castle he saw a Greek inscription upon a lintel. This Greek Inscription on a winged tablet on top of a side doorway at a building attached to castle built on the ruins of Mirabel fortress, a medieval Crusader stronghold of the Lordship of Mirabel (Migdal/Mejdal fortress).
The Ancient Greek inscription reads:
«ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΚΗΡΥΚΟΥ»
In his book Byeways in Palestine, Finn provides along with a sketch of the entrance his own English translation of the Greek inscription: Martyr Memorial Church of the Holy Herald-i.e., John the Baptist.
(Byeways in Palestine)
Finn's rendition of the inscription in Greek letters is correct. He interpretes the term Holy Herald formerly used as a designation of John the Baptist ascribing to him in the first place the office of a herald, preacher (gr. ΚΗΡΥΞ) instead of baptizer, i.e. a prophet heralding the coming of Jesus.
Literally, however, one would translate «ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΚΗΡΥΚΟΥ» as
Martyrdom of the Holy Herald.