The Gospels tells how Jesus heals the madman, after sailing across the Sea of Galilee and landing in the Country of Gadarenes (Gader, south east corner of the lake). He drives out the devils into a herd of swine, who “ran violently down a steep place into the sea and were choked in the sea”.
Kursi fits the description of the site of the miracle. It is located on the east side of the Sea of Galilee – on the “other side” where Jesus sailed from. According to the Christian tradition, Kursi is identified as Gergesa (Gergesenes).
Excavations restored the ruins of a 5-6th C AD church and monastery, the largest Byzantine monastery in Israel, which was established on basis of the traditional site of the miracle.
