CAN HUMANS WALK ON WATER?

Jesus walking on water in the Sea of Galilee is a very well-known miraculous event. And of course, there is the account of Buddha performing the same wondrous talent. Although these men both lived thousands of years ago, their incredible feats are still remembered today. But what many people don't realize is that there are dozens of cases from many different cultures throughout history in which people have walked on water. Some of these accounts were widely viewed by outside witnesses and are surprisingly well-verified.

For example, in the year 350, St. Ammon of Egypt was viewed by his disciple to float over a river.

In the 4th century, Saint Bessarion reportedly walked across the Nile, the Takazze River and the Barada River.

Another early case is Raymond of Pennafort, confessor to King James I of Aragon. Raymond was seen by hundreds of spectators to travel from the Island of Mayorca to Barcelona, a distance of 160 miles, using only his cloak as a flotation device. Many sailors observed this event, and Raymond's arrival on the shore was observed by a crowd of hundreds.

Many of the early cases involve various saints. In the 6th century, Maurus rescued Saint Placid from drowning in a lake in Subiaco, Italy. Maurus ran across the surface of the lake and retrieved Placid. Only upon returning to the shore did he realize that he had actually walked on water.

In 1430, Blessed Alvarez of Cordova, Italy joined the list of people who have walked on water when he was seen walking across a flooded river to reach his monastery.

In the early 1500s, Saint Peter of Alcantara was observed to walk across the Guadiana River in Spain.

Aso in the 1500s, Saint Seraphino was seen walking across the Potenza River in Italy.

One of the most remarkable and widely viewed accounts of walking on water occurred in the 1700s to Saint Gerard of Majella, who was seen by a crowd of hundreds of people to walk on water in order to rescue a small boat that was sinking off the coast of Italy.

While many of the early cases involve saints, accounts come from all over the world from a wide variety of people of different cultures.

In the 1800s, "Dengnabine," a well-known Azande Medicine Man from Africa was observed to walk on water.

Another famous case from the 1800s is that of Mademoiselle Frederica Hauffe of France, also known as the Seer of Provorst. She displayed numerous psychic abilities, among them one instance of walking on water.

Two saints from Russia, Saint Basil (1800s) and Saint Zachary (1900s) were both seen by witnesses to walk on water.

An amusing and modern case occurred on July 18, 1837 to an eight-year-old Russian boy named Nikolai Yurlov. On that evening, Nikolai was woken up by a ghostly apparition. He became so frightened that he fled his home in terror and actually ran across the surface of the Sviyaga River. Servants who were chasing the boy were shocked to find Nikolai on the other side of the river, completely dry.

In 1894, explorer and researcher Baird T. Spaulding traveled with a group of men to study the miracles of Enlightened Masters from the Far East. While visiting India, they met a group of Yogis who took them on a journey to the foothills of the Himalayas. Spaulding and his companions observed a group of a dozen yogis traverse a large river by walking on the surface of the water. The yogis explained that with the proper training, anyone could learn to attain this ability.

One of the most unusual cases of this kind comes from Angelo Faticoni of Jacksonville, Florida. Also called "The Human Cork" and "The Man They Could Not Drown." Faticoni repeatedly demonstrated his ability to stay afloat on the surface of the water for hours at a time in virtually any position. He could stay on the surface lying on his side, his back or curled up in a ball. He could even sleep on the water. He was able to swim long distances. He subjected himself to numerous experiments including allowing himself to be tied down with weights or sewn into a sac. Still he remained on the surface of the water. Scientists from Harvard University studied his case and were unable to explain Faticoni's amazing ability.

These are just a few of the many cases of people who have displayed this unusual ability to walk on water. French researcher Olivier Leroy lists many other saints with this ability. Can humans walk on water? The answer is apparently yes!

If you would like to learn more about people who have walked on water, and other accounts like it, check out my book, "Human Levitation: A True History." Now available!