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Unearthing History: Church of the Apostles Reveals Links to Peter and Early Christianity
The recent discovery of the Church of the Apostles at Khirbet el-Araj has fascinated archaeologists and historians, sparking debates regarding its identification with the church over the apostle Peter's house in Bethsaida, as noted by the eighth-century bishop Willibald in his journey to the Holy Land. Initial skepticism surrounding this claim was dispelled with the discovery of a dedicatory inscription referencing “the chief of the apostles,” believed to be Peter.
Subsequent excavations raised questions about earlier structures beneath the basilica. Notably, the apse was excavated, revealing a first-century wall. In addition, an adjacent second-century wall was preserved, enclosed with a plastered wall, and venerated, indicating an earlier Christian presence predating the basilica's construction. Additional excavations conducted during wartime in Israel uncovered a large fourth-century building next to the basilica, with evidence suggesting it served as an ecclesiastical monument preserving the memory of Peter and Andrew's house.
