The place 'where Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000' has been totally submerged by flooding, forcing archaeologists to abandon the excavation site. Pictured, the flooded El-Araj site
The place 'where Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000' has been totally submerged by flooding, forcing archaeologists to abandon the excavation site.
Bethsaida — hometown to disciples Andrew, Peter and Philip — was reputedly where Christ performed the miracles of feeding the multitude and helping a blind man see.
Archaeologists have been working to prove that the lost ancient town once stood at El-Araj, an excavation site on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
However, their efforts have ground to a halt after heavy rains caused the Sea of Galilee — also known as Lake Kinneret — to flood the site.
Lead archaeologist Moti Aviam of Kinneret College said that there was no way digging could continue this year.
'During the past 30 years, the amount of the rain in Israel was not enough to bring the lake to its full capacity,' he said.
'This year it happened. All of our excavated squares, even the highest — the mosaic floor of the Byzantine church — were covered.'
Comment: Drone footage of the coastal flooding at Mandeville in the neighboring state of Louisiana: