Capernaum, Israel

Note: This is my first post at the website busy.org. I am trying out the format to see if I like it better.

My wife and I had a busy morning of travel, capped off with a visit to the ancient town of Capernaum. Capernaum was considered the heart of Jesus' ministry at the Sea of Galilee. It was his base of operations. In Matthew 11:23, Jesus cursed Capernaum for the lack of believers there. He said that the city would be cast down to Hades. The city lay dormant for several centuries before it's identity was discovered by scholars. It was rediscovered in the mid-nineteenth century.

As you enter the ancient city, there are broad areas for visitors to walk as well as gated off areas where archaeological research has not been completed or is being protected. This includes the area below St. Peter's Church where it is believed the disciple Peter resided. It was also used as an early church with indicators placing renovations all the way back to the first century era. There is also a synagogue that was contemporary to the era that Jesus was teaching located across another residential dig site that remains protected.

View of Synagogue as you enter Capernaum

View of Synagogue across fenced dig site. These were once residences.

The black stones visible in the protected area are the type of stone (basalt) that was used to build houses during Jesus' era. They date to that period. Many of the stones were uncovered in situ and did not have to be reconstructed. The synagogue was also made of black stone, as indicated when an earlier structure was located beneath the current one. It is believed the current synagogue may have been built over the original around the fifth century based on items found beneath the new construction.

View of the Sea of Galilee from the Synagogue*

View of the Synagogue built around the 5th Century AD

Archaeological site behind the Synagogue

This temple was a two story structure. On the back side of the synagogue are the remains of the ancient stairway that led up to the second floor. The humongous cut blocks were impressive enough for me to snap a photo. First, the stones are hewn with flat surfaces. Second, they are stacked. Much greater feats than this existed even further back in history. But that doesn't temper my amazement at the skill of the tradesman of that era.

I will be talking more about the Church of Saint Peter in another post. There is plenty to show you and talk about regarding the evidence and accuracy of this location for Saint Peter's home. But there is one more impressive sight in Capernaum I want to talk about before I close. There is a mosaic located by a statue commemorating Saint Peter. It is a huge mosaic. Standing at this point, you can clearly sea out over the Sea of Galilee. The scenery here was amazing. But I couldn't capture it all in one shot. So I will leave you with the mosaic.

A Christian Guide to Israel

Hotels
Cinema Hotel Tel Aviv, Israel
Ron Beach Hotel, Tiberias, Israel
Prima Park Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel

Attractions
Caesarea National Park Caesarea, Israel
Mount Precipice Mount Kedimum, Israel
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride Tiberias, Israel
Yigal Alon Museum (Jesus Boat) Ginosar, Israel
Capernaum, Israel
St. Peter’s Restaurant Kinneret, Israel
Caesarea Philippi Banias Springs, Israel
Israeli 6-Day War Memorial
Jordan River Baptismal Site, Yardenit, Israel
Beit She’an National Park, Beit She’an, Israel
Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel
Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel
Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
Western Wall Tunnels, Jerusalem, Israel
Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, Israel
Bethlehem New Store Gift Shop
Pool of Bethesda, Jerusalem, Israel
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel
House of Caiaphas the High Priest, Jerusalem, Israel
The Upper Room, Jerusalem, Israel
Tomb of King David, Jerusalem, Israel
Masada National Park, Masada, Israel
The Dead Sea, Masada, Israel

Churches
Discalced Carmelite Monastery Muhraqa, Israel
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth, Israel
St. Peter’s Church Capernaum, Israel
Church of the Multiplication Tabgha, Israel
Church of the Beatitudes Tabgha, Israel
Church of All Nations, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel

These photos are my own. They may be used with permission.