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(Image: GETTY/FOX NEWS)

The 1,700-year-old church contained evidence of the earliest Christian worship, and human remains.

And archaeologists believe the site will reveal the hidden truth about the persecution of Christians under the Romans.

Remarkably, the site survived two years under the control of ISIS, which destroyed a number of other ancient sites in Syria including the 2,000-year-old city of Palmyra.

According to local explorers, the entrance to the church was used as a rubbish dump by Jihadi forces, who didn't realise it was there.

(Image: FOX NEWS)

Among the findings in the church were crosses etched into columns and walls and writings carved into stone.

"I was so excited, I can't describe it. I was holding everything in my hands," said Abdulwahab Sheko, head of the Exploration Committee at the Ruins Council in Manbij, where the ruins were found.

"This place is so special," he told US news reporters.

Sheko had been studying the area around the site when ISIS forces invaded in 2014.

(Image: FOX NEWS)

He managed to keep it secret until Isis were driven out by US-backed forces in 2016, but because of landmines and booby traps placed by jihadi forces, cleanup and digging couldn't start until August last year.

The site is made up of a series of narrow tunnels, with a space at the entrance for a sentry to stand guard.

There are a number of escape routes leading to tunnels covered with huge stones, as well as three rough stone steps leading to a makeshift altar.

Leading archaeologists in the US say the find proves that there was a much larger Christian population in the area at that time than was previously thought.

(Image: FOX NEWS)

Christians in the region "felt they needed to hide their activities," said John Wineland, professor of history and archaeology at Southeastern University, a Christian University in Florida.

"This is probably an indication of the persecution by the Roman government, which was common in the period.

Christianity was banned in the Roman Empire until Emperor Constantine converted in 313 AD.

"The Romans misunderstood many Christian practices and would often charge them with crimes, such as cannibalism," Wineman added.

(Image: FOX NEWS)

Romans misunderstood the Christian communion and the "drinking" of Christ's blood and "eating" of his flesh.

Christians would meet in secret to avoid persecution.

Sheko said he has reached out to international archaeologists to help test the human remains found in the site, but the country is still too dangerous.

For now, the site is guarded by a gunman armed with an AK-47, but Sheko says he hopes that the Vatican will send someone soon to inspect the ruins.

Experts are also looking into a site found nearby featuring an ancient Christian graveyard, with stone cushions for the bodies of early priests.

(Image: FOX NEWS)

Sheko said that it was important that the monuments were protected.

"We are Muslim, but we are not like Isis Muslims," he said.

"We take care of these Christian ruins. We respect them. We respect humanity."

Recently an incredible discovery was made in the region as archaeologists uncovered the ancient city believed to belong to Biblical King David.

And investigators believe they have found the remains of Noah's Ark on a mountain in Turkey.