Church of the Apostles discovered near Israel’s Sea of Galilee

Beneath the shores surrounding the lowest freshwater lake on earth, a discovery has been found at the popular tourist spot.

The Church of the Apostles, which is said to have been built over the house of Jesus’ disciples Peter and Andrew, has been discovered near Israel’s Sea of Galilee, according to a team of American and Israeli archaeologists.

Experts from the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology at Kinneret College, Israel and Nyack College in New York, have been excavating the site of el-Araj on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The archaeologists believe that el-Araj is the site of the ancient Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida, which later became the Roman city of Julias.

New discoveries strengthen the identification of first-century Bethsaida-Julias at el-Araj. Picture: Centre for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins

Professor Steven Notley, of Nyack College, told Fox News the group’s previous annual excavations at the site had uncovered evidence of the church’s existence, such as pieces of marble from its chancel screen and small gilded glass blocks called tesserae that were used in ornate church wall mosaics. “These discoveries already informed us that the church was waiting to be found somewhere nearby,” he explained, via email.

Sea of Galilee, Israel, is the lowest freshwater lake on earth.

Following the clues, the archaeologists discovered the church’s mosaic floors. “It is always remarkable to bring these beautifully decorated floors to light after being buried for almost 1500 years,” Prof Notley explained.

The Byzantine church had been mentioned by early Christian pilgrims, notably the Bavarian bishop (and saint) Willibald in 725AD. “(Willibald) states that the church was in Bethsaida built over the house of Peter and Andrew, among the first disciples of Jesus,” Prof Notley told Fox News.

The professor added that the church’s discovery was significant for at least two reasons. “First, until its recent discovery, many scholars questioned its existence. Although it is mentioned in Byzantine pilgrimage itineraries, many thought these reports mistaken,” he explained. “Of equal importance, the church indicates that there existed a living memory in the Christian community about the location of Bethsaida, home of Peter, Andrew and Philip (John 1:44).”

The Roman city of Julias was born out of the Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida during the first century AD, according to the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius. The New Testament describes Bethsaida as the home of Jesus’ apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip. Jesus also healed a blind man at Bethsaida, according to Mark 8:22-26, while Luke 9:10-17 describes a nearby location for the feeding of the 5000 people.

The archaeologists believe that el-Araj is the site of the ancient Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida, which later became the Roman city of Julias. Picture: Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins

While the site appears to have been unoccupied for about two centuries during the 4th and 5th centuries AD, the local Christian community still remembered where the New Testament village had been located, according to Prof Notley. “The discovery of the church strengthens our position that el-Araj should be considered the leading candidate for New Testament Bethsaida-Julias,” he added.

Archaeologists uncovered the mosaic floor of the Byzantine church at el-Araj. Picture: Centre for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins

A Roman bathhouse discovered at el-Araj in 2017 provided an important glimpse into the area’s ancient urbanisation, and Motti Aviam of Kinneret College selected a site more than 90 metres from the main excavation site for a subsequent dig. The excavation found Roman-era houses and pottery, indicating the existence of a small city.

This discovery strengthens the possible identification of the village of Bethsaida at the site of el-Araj. Picture: Centre for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins

Experts are confident the next excavation season at el-Araj will reveal more of the ancient site’s secrets and plan to entirely excavate the Byzantine church. “Thus far, we have only uncovered some of the southern rooms of the church, likely the southern aisle,” Prof Notley said. “At the end of this season, we were just beginning to uncover the mosaics of what is likely the nave, the centre section of the church.”

Electromagnetic imaging also suggests there are more buildings and structures to be excavated at el-Araj. “At the end of next season we expect to be able to publish a preliminary report on our first five seasons and definitely answer the question of the location of New Testament Bethsaida-Julias,” Prof Notley explained.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission