Vassilios Tzaferis

Vassilios Tzaferis (Greek: Βασίλης Τζαφέρης; Hebrew: וסיליוס צפֵיריס; 1 April 1936 – 1 January 2015) was a Greek–Israeli biblical archaeologist and Orthodox monk, best known for his discovery of the remains of a crucified man at Givat HaMivtar.

He was the director of surveys and excavations at the Israel Antiquities Authority (1999–2001) and the curator of the Patriarchal Museum in Jerusalem (1984–2004).

Now required to perform mandatory military service in Greece, he also renounced his Greek citizenship in order to remain in Israel.

He also served as the curator of the Patriarchal Museum in Jerusalem from 1984 to 2002[1] and was a member of the Supreme Archaeological Council of Israel.

[3] Tzaferis excavated at various sites in Jerusalem, as well as at Ashkelon, Beth She'an, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Kursi, and Tel Dan.