In Israel, found a church from the New Testament, built over the house of the apostles of Jesus

According to a group of American and Israeli archaeologists, the Church of the Apostles, which, according to Tradition, was built over the house of the disciples of Jesus Peter and Andrew, was discovered near the Sea of ​​Galilee in Israel.

Фото: Depositphotos

Experts from the Institute of Archeology at Kinneret College, Israel, and Nyack College in New York excavated the El Araj site on the northern shore of the Sea of ​​Galilee. Archaeologists believe that El Araj is the site of the ancient Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida, which later became the Roman city of Iulias, writes Fox News.

Professor Steven Notley of Nyack College said that previous excavations of the group at this site found evidence of the existence of the church, such as pieces of marble from the altar and small gilded blocks that were used to decorate the church wall.

“These discoveries already told us that the church was waiting to be found somewhere nearby,” he explained.

Following the prompts, archaeologists discovered the mosaic floors of the church.

“It was so wonderful to see these beautifully decorated floors after they had been buried underground for almost 1500 years,” Notley explained.

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This church was mentioned by early Christian pilgrims, in particular the Bavarian Bishop Willibald in 725, AD.

“Willibald claims that the church was built in Bethsaida over the house of Peter and Andrew, who were among the first disciples of Jesus,” Notley said.

The professor explained that the opening of the church is important for at least two reasons.

“Firstly, until the recent discovery, many scientists questioned its existence. Although it is mentioned in Byzantine pilgrimage routes, many consider these references to be erroneous. Equally important, the church indicates that there was a living memory in the Christian community of the location of Bethsaida, the home of Peter, Andrew and Philip,” the scientist noted.

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The Roman city of Julias was formed on the territory of the Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida in the first century of our era. The New Testament calls Bethsaida the home of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Jesus also healed a blind man in Bethsaida.

While in the 4 and 5 centuries of our era this site seemed to be unoccupied, the local Christian community still remembered where the New Testament village was located.

“The discovery of the church strengthens our position that El Araj should be considered a leading candidate for the name Bethsaida Julias of the New Testament,” Notley said.

Experts are confident that the next season of excavation in Al-Araj will reveal more secrets of the ancient site, and plan to completely excavate the ancient Byzantine church.

“So far we have only discovered some of the southern rooms of the church, probably the southern aisle. At the end of this season we just started to reveal the mosaic there, which is probably the nave, the central part of the church,” Notley explained.

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