Featured Image Credit: El-Araj Excavation Project
Topics: World News, Israel
Dominic Smithers
Experts believe they may have found the birthplace of St Peter in what would be a major discovery.
For the biblically challenged among you, Peter was one of Jesus' 12 Apostles, who went on to become the first pope.
For years, experts have tried to pinpoint where he was actually born, with some believing it was Capernaum and others claiming it was the lost city of Bethsaida, as both are mentioned in the Bible.
Well, a team of researchers may very well have put the debate to rest after uncovering a mosaic in the 'Church of the Apostles' in El-Araj, located on the north-eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
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The mosaic, which forms part of the church floor, was first discovered back in 2021, but was covered by a layer of dirt and could not be read.
However, following extensive work to clean it, its inscription has finally been translated by Professor Leah Di Segni of Hebrew University and Professor Yaakov Ashkenazi of Kinneret College.
Written in ancient Greek, it references a petition of intercession by the "chief and commander of the heavenly apostles", a title often used at that time by Byzantine Christian writers for St Peter.
Steven Notley, the academic director of the dig, said this was a groundbreaking find.
"This discovery is our strongest indicator that Peter had a special association with the basilica, and it was likely dedicated to him," he said.
"Since Byzantine Christian tradition routinely identified Peter’s home in Bethsaida, and not in Capernaum as is often thought today, it seems likely that the basilica commemorates his house."
The discovery is also supported by the fact that the church was described by 8th century Bishop of Eichstätt, Willibald as having been built over the house of Peter and Andrew.
Mordechai Aviam is the archaeological director of the excavation.
He said: "One of the goals of this dig was to check whether we have at the site a layer from the 1st century, which will allow us to suggest a better candidate for the identification of Biblical Bethsaida.
"Not only did we find significant remains from this period, but we also found this important church and the monastery around it."
The dig will continue in October, with cleaning work on the whole of the church to be completed.
It's hoped that researchers will continue to uncover more details about its history and perhaps new inscriptions.
You can find out more information on the dig here.
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