Lost in the hustle-bustle Part II - Thursday

We began our day Thursday at the boat museum on the Sea of Galilee. We saw an ancient fishing boat that had been raised from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee by marine archeologists and restored. The boat was from the time that Jesus conducted his ministry in the Galilee. No claim has been made that either Jesus or his disciples were ever in this particular boat. However, the craft is of the type that the disciples, as fishermen, would have used.

After viewing the boat museum we traveled to Capernaum, the "village of comfort." There we saw many interesting ruins. First we saw the ruins of the ancient Jewish village in existence during Jesus' time. Also on site was the ruins of a 4th century synagogue. While the synagogue was interesting in and of itself, what makes it even more interesting from a Christian perspective is the local legend that this structure was built upon the ruins of a more ancient synagogue; and, therefore, may have a synagogue where Jesus preached.

Last, it is believed that Jesus lived in Capernaum in the home of Saint Peter's mother in law. The ruins of a structure said to be her home are presently beneath a Franciscan church on site.

After Capernaum we traveled on to the Mount of the Beatitudes. There is a church on the site which is largely unremarkable. However, the site is interesting from a spiritual point of view, and the views of the Sea of Galilee are wonderful.

After the Mount of the Beatitudes we journeyed on to Tabgha, the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:33-44). The church there was lovely, and had managed to save and use the tile floors from an earlier Byzantine church.

After Tabgha we went to Nazareth. On the way we went past the village of Nain. In Saint Luke's Gospel, Jesus brings the son of a widow back to life in Nain.

During Jesus' life, Nazareth was a small village of a couple of hundred people. Today, Nazareth is one of the largest Arab towns in Israel; and, if I may say so, is a bit on the dirty side. We were there for one purpose only - to visit the two churches which claim to be on the site of the Annunciation. (For non Christians, the Annunciation refers to the Angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary, the mother of Jesus, that she will conceive and bear him.)

In Saint Gabriel's Greek Orthodox Church we saw the well of the Blessed Virgin. This was a very cathartic experience for several of our members for whom the Blessed Virgin is spiritually important. The Roman Catholic Basilica was grand. Unfortunately, we could not explore it as there was a Mass getting underway.

From Nazareth we journeyed on to Jerusalem by way of the Palestinian controlled West Bank (known in Biblical times as Samaria). On the way we passed by Mount Gilboa. Gilboa was the mount on which King Saul lost his kingdom, and his head.

We arrived in Jerusalem at 8 pm for a blessing ceremony - a ceremony that capped a full day of blessings.





- Posted from my iPad using BlogPress

Location:Upper Galilee