The 'miracle mosaic' near the Sea of Galilee. Photo by Michael Eisenberg.,,,
Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 is recalled in a ‘miracle’ mosaic protected since the fifth century from the blazing Middle Eastern sun.
In what’s been described by one writer as a “fortuitous catastrophe”, the floor of the Burnt Church in Hippos-Sussita, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, has been preserved from sunlight damage by the ash covering created when the church burnt down.
It has allowed archaeologists from the Zinman Institute at Haifa University to uncover depictions of five loaves and two fishes.
Dr Michael Eisenberg, co-director of the dig, said: “Exposing a Byzantine church with its colourful mosaic is astounding. Finding a mosaic that may be associated directly with a miracle ascribed to Jesus is like a miracle itself.”
