Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu - Jerusalem, Israel

The former Palace of Caiaphas the High Priest was located to the south of Jerusalem. The area is located on a steep hillside. In the courtyard of the High Priest, the Apostle Peter denied his relationship to Jesus three times. The account is recorded in three of the Gospels. In Luke 22:54-62 (ESV) we read:

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

The location housed a Byzantine Church in the mid-fifth century. Like many of the historic churches in Israel, it was destroyed by the Muslims and rebuilt during the Crusader era. The most recent church is built on the ruins of the previous two churches since 1931. The church was given the name *Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu" during the Crusader era. The word Gallicantu is latin for cocks-crow. The event is commemorated by this church, with numerous sculptures and a black cross with a golden rooster located on the roof. (See photo above).

Much of the art at this church is French. On the exterior of the building is a mural with the words "les outrages chez Caiphe." This translates loosely as "the outrage at Caiaphas." This location is significant for many reasons. Aside from being the location of Peter's denial, is is also the location of Christ's trail and scourging. There is a path leading down the steep hillside that is likely the route that Jesus and his disciples took to the Mount of Olives from the Upper Room.

In John 18:1 (NIV) we read: When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. John's account lists several lessons that were taught along the way. The route from the location of the Upper Room to cross the Kidron Valley would have taken Jesus and his disciples directly past the Palace of Caiaphas the High Priest, where Jesus would later be denied by Peter and flogged.

After crossing the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and led back up (likely by the same route pictured above) for his trial. While sitting in the courtyard, Peter was recognized as a Galilean and follower of Christ. As predicted, it was here where Peter denied Christ three times. There is a plaque commemorating the event as well as a statue. The plaque quotes Luke22:61. The statue depicts the event.

On the hillside below the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu are a series of caves that have not been excavated. Inside these caves archaeologists discovered weights and measures from Jesus' era that corroborate this location at the Palace of Caiaphas. Our tour started from behind/below the church, with the route ascending upwards through the church. The remnants of the storage rooms are pictured below.

Moving inside the lowest level of the site, visitors will see caves where tradition suggests Jesus was held and scourged. There are indications there were cells and a guardroom on this level. There are different artworks visible in the lower level as well as a mosaic salvaged from the Byzantine era church.

On the top level of the church, services were being conducted during our visit. For that reason, we were not able to take good photographs inside the church. There are glass windows that look into the church as you pass. The ceiling of the church contains a beautiful stained glass window in the shape of a gilded cross.

My final photo provides some perspective on the location of the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Looking to the north, you can see the southern wall of Jerusalem along with the iconic golden dome in the background. In the foreground are the steps that mark the ancient road that dates to Jesus time. This is most likely the route he and his disciples took to/from the Garden of Gethsemane. It is protected with gates. Foot traffic is not permitted on the steps in order to preserve them.

A couple of other thoughts about this location. There is a coffee shop located across from the church as well as public restrooms. It is very convenient for tour groups. As you walk downhill from the parking area to this site, there is a scenic overlook that allows a great view of Kidron Valley and I believe the Hinnom Valley. Generally in the area where the two valleys meet is the place where "best guesses" suggest Judas hung himself.

Be sure to check out my other experiences journeying in the Holy Land!

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 Phillipi Banias, Israel
Gadot Lookout and Memorial Golan Heights, Israel
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
Bethlehem New Store Gift Shop
Pools of Bethesda Jerusalem, Israel
Via Dolorosa Jerusalem, Israel
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Yad Vashem, 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 Saint Peter in Gallicantu, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, West Bank

Unless otherwise indicated, these photos are my own. They may be used with permission.