Kursi, in the Land of the Gadarenes on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, is believed to be where Jesus cast out demons into a herd of pigs that went crashing off a steep place into the lake (Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-17; Luke 8:26-37). Its rediscovery and restoration is an exciting chapter in Christian travel in the Holy Land.

Like other sites, notably Bethsaida and Korazim, this site, too, was lost centuries ago when travel was much harder than it is today.

The Gospels’ variant names for the place added to confusion about its location. Then, during road construction about 30 years ago, a mosaic came to light, and as Israeli archaeologists investigated further, a beautiful church emerged from the ground. They also found that Byzantine Christians had built a large tower around an adjacent “steep place.”

Recalling an ancient Jewish name for this site that was similar to one in the Gospels, scholars realized this must be the place of the Miracle of the Swine. Visitors can now read the events where they may have actually happened, visit the church and climb to the steep place for a fabulous view of the Sea of Galilee.