Tyrannius Rufinus
In about August 362 AD, in continuation of his policy against Christianity, Roman emperor Julian, more commonly known as Julian the Apostate and who was based in Antioch, in the course of the Persian expedition, ordered the destruction of the tomb of John the Baptist and the cremation of his body; the event was recorded by historian and theologian Tyrannius Rufinus. A small basilica church, first founded in the 5th century, was excavated on the southern slope of the acropolis. The church was believed to be the burial place of the head of John the Baptist. A monastery was added to it at a later date.