Bethulia

Bethulia, also known as Bethulia of Galilee, was a town in the Galilee region of the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. It was located near the Sea of Galilee, approximately 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of Tiberias. Bethulia is first mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, where it is described as the hometown of the apostle Philip. According to the Gospel of John, Philip and his brother Andrew were fishing when they were called by Jesus to follow him. They left their nets and followed Jesus, who then called Philip to follow him as well. After this encounter, Philip and Andrew went to Bethulia to find their brother Simon Peter, who was also called by Jesus to be a fisher of men.

Bethulia is not mentioned in any other historical or archaeological sources, and its exact location remains unknown. Some scholars suggest that it may have been a small village or a fishing community, based on its association with fishing in the New Testament. The town's name is derived from the Hebrew word "beth," meaning "house," and "ulia," which is of uncertain meaning. Despite the lack of historical evidence, Bethulia remains an important site in Christian tradition, as it is the hometown of one of the twelve apostles.