The discovery of a mosaic floor in the ruins of a building in northern Israel would prove the discovery of the Church of the Apostles, residence of St. Peter and St. Andrew

Newsroom – Israel (October 29, 2021, 1:40 PM, Gaudium Press) Some Israeli archaeologists have discovered a mosaic floor from a ruined building.

The discovery leads archaeologists to believe that it is the floor of the Church of the Apostles in the biblical city of Bethsaida, by the Sea of Galilee.

The Byzantine-style mosaics were discovered by a team from the Kinneret Institute of Archaeology in Galilee.

In 2019, the discovery of a ruined building was made, which would be a supposed church. From then on the excavation work intensified.

The recently discovered mosaic carries Byzantine inscriptions and could prove that the discovered building is indeed the church of the Apostles. One inscription bears the name of a deacon and the other tells of the reconstruction of the site.

Archaeologists are guided by the account of St. Vibaldo

As guidance for this deduction, archaeologists rely on history. Indeed, St. Vilibaldo traveled on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 724 and described the journey. In one of his passages we read, “And from there they went to Bethsaida, the residence of Peter and Andrew, where there is now a church in the place of the house.”

A large earthquake was recorded in the area 20 years after the pilgrimage of St. Vibaldo and probably damaged the church. Excavations will continue, according to archaeologists, to determine the identity of the building.

Bethsaida in the Gospel

Bethsaida is one of the most mentioned places in the Gospel. The Apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip originated from the town. Also according to the Gospel of Matthew, many miracles were performed there, yet the town was not converted.

For this reason, Our Lord hurled three woes against three cities in the region: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that have been performed among you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have been converted long ago, putting on sackcloth and covering themselves with ashes. But I affirm that on the day of judgment, Tyre and Sidon will be treated less strictly than you.” (Mt 11:21-22)

Compiled by Sarah Gangl