Galilee: Archaeological excavations at the site where Jesus Christ witnessed the miracle of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish stopped the sudden flood in the Sea of Galilee. It is near Bethsaida, the home of Christ’s disciples Peter, Andrew, and Philip, that Jesus drove out five thousand with two loaves and two fishes and gave the blind man his sight. For centuries, efforts have been made to find the true location of this historic site.
The researchers were trying to find evidence that the town was located in El-Araj, the northern coastal area of the Sea of Galilee. This effort had to be stopped after the floods. Professor Moti Avium, the chief archaeologist at Kinneret College, said the excavation could not be resumed this year. He added that this is the first time in 30 years that the lake has been flooded. The floor of the mosaic floor of the ancient Byzantine shrine, known as the Temple of the Apostles, was found underwater.
There is also an opinion amongst archaeologists that Betsaida is in another region known as Et-tel. Professor Aviam observes that El-Araj is more likely to be a fishing village since Et-Tel is located about two kilometers from the shore and that L-Araj is located on the coast. According to Roman historian Titus Flavius Joseph, the city of Bethsaida is where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee. According to Professor Avium, Bessaida has been identified since the 6th century and the construction of a shrine in memory of the Apostles.
