North Church Sanctuary

View looking east at the North Church in Shivta.  The main body of the church is the central nave, and the two side aisles (65ft by 43ft).  At the east end of the central nave the three steps lead up to the chancel area and the large semi-circular apse behind it.

Each aisle leads to a smaller apse, and in them were reliquaries (boxes containing sacred relics).  The doorway in the right wall leads to a side chapel.

The church was constructed in the fourth century AD and, following an earthquake, it was reconstructed at the beginning of the sixth century AD.