Archaeologists make 'groundbreaking' discovery at biblical site where Jesus performed miracles

At the place where the biblical stories say Jesus performed miracles, archaeologists have made a "groundbreaking" discovery. Scientists have proven the existence of a long-lost temple.

Several passages in the New Testament describe how the son of God preached and healed the sick in a synagogue in the ancient Israeli city of Chorazin. The synagogue, built in 380 A.D., was discovered in the early 1900s, but until now there was no evidence dating it to the time of Jesus, DailyMail writes.

Christians from all over the world traveled to the holy site at Chorazin, where historical records indicate a temple was located. While excavating the synagogue, which opened in 1905, a team of archaeologists discovered the ruins of an even older temple buried beneath it.

"This is a groundbreaking discovery. I've done excavations all over the world, but for me this is by far one of the most important excavations I've ever led," said lead archaeologist Achia Cohen-Tavor for Dagesh Tourism Archaeology.

Cohen-Tavor and his team removed the floor of the third-century ruins, revealing giant boulders placed in a specific order. Under the stones, the researchers found pottery, coins and utensils.

"I can't date the stone itself when it was put here. But I can date the pottery and the coins. Whatever I find between these stones will date the construction of the synagogue," Cohen-Tavor added.

The archaeologist also said that the giant boulders and artifacts are the greatest evidence of first century housing ever found in the region.

The book of Matthew refers to this place as the town of Chorazin, where there was a synagogue where Jesus taught. However, Christ cursed the city after the locals rejected him and his teachings.

"Then he began to denounce the towns where most of his mighty works were done because they did not repent," Cohen-Tavor said.

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that you have had performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in faith and ashes long ago," the holy book says.

Archaeologist Cohen-Tavor noted that preliminary excavations may have mistaken the giant boulders for simple rock, so the first-century ruins may have been overlooked.

The structure was built of basalt stones and decorated with Jewish motifs. It had three entrances, with the front facing south, toward Jerusalem, as was the custom.

Even previous excavations had uncovered a stone seat here where the Torah reader sat, referred to as the Moses Chair. All synagogues had such a seat, and when Jesus taught in the synagogues of Galilee, he probably sat on a seat designed for such authority.

A similar stone seat of Moses was found in an early synagogue on the island of Delos in Greece. Also at Hammat Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.

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