Updates from El-Araj

In the summer of 2022, excavators at the site of first-century Bethsaida (Khirbet el-Araj) discovered a remarkable inscription in the floor of a Byzantine basilica reportedly built over the house of the apostles Peter and Andrew. North of the apse in the diaconicon (sacristy), the mosaic floor was renovated and included a medallion inscription to honor a local benefactor named Constantine and his two children. The inscription is groundbreaking in several regards. While the tradition regarding the primacy of Peter is heard in later literary and liturgical writings, the inscription from el-Araj is the oldest archaeological evidence for the Christian tradition that Peter is to be considered the “chief of the apostles.” In this talk, Dr. R. Steven Notley, academic director of the El Araj Excavation Project, will present an in-depth consideration of this fascinating archaeological find, highlighting its historical and religious significance.