DAY 5 - "Let's Renew Marriage Vows at Cana"

 Tell Me the Stories of Jesus:  Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum, Ancient Galilee Boat, Tiberias

 One hour away from Tiberias is Nazareth, our main destination today.  Nazareth is the capital and the largest city in the Northern District of Israel. Nazareth is known as "the Arab capital of Israel".  About 70% are Muslims, with only 30% Christians.

The Church of the Annunciation is the largest Catholic church in the Middle East. In Roman Catholic tradition, it marks the site where the Angel Gabriel announced the future birth of Jesus to Mary (Luke 1:26–31).
 
 The towering cupola of the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth stands over the cave that tradition holds to be the home of the Virgin Mary.

Nazareth is the childhood home of Jesus, and is a center of Christian pilgrimage, with many shrines commemorating biblical events.

The lower level of the Church of the Annunciation enshrines a sunken grotto that contains the traditional cave-home of the Virgin Mary.

The dome is like a lighthouse.  "It brings you Home."

The soaring cupola represents an inverted lily opening its petals to the shrine below. The symbolism combines the lily, as an image of Mary’s purity, with one of the Semitic meanings of the name Nazareth, a flower.

In front of the cave is another simple altar, with tiers of seats around it on three sides. Above it, a large octagonal opening situated exactly under the cupola of the church.

In Mary's House, people from all over the worlds gave gifts of art.  This church was built in 1961.

Cousins - Lloyd & John with Joanne are part of the tour group

The first church on the of Mary’s home was built around 427. The Crusaders built a huge basilica on its ruins, but this too was destroyed when the Crusader kingdom fell in 1187.

The Church of St. Joseph was built in 1914 on the site of this Crusader church of the 12th century.  The caves, granaries, and wells in the lower level was used by the early dwellers of Nazareth.  Later, the Christians turned the site into a worship place.  Travelers who had visited the place in the 7th century pointed out that this had been the location of the "Carpentry Shop of Joseph."

This is the only known statue in the world of Joseph, Jesus' Earthly Father.

Later, traditions identify the place as "the House of Joseph."

This is  in the public entrance to the church.
 

Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and young Jesus.

The cave under the church was used by the early dwellers in the Roman period as a water and food storage place under the house, which is typical of the residential houses at that time.

We're sure enjoying our Holy Land trip together!

Ancient Village of Nazareth

Cousin Lloyd gets lots of looks with his cowboy hat and boots - "Are you a cowboy?"

Cana in Galilee is celebrated as the scene of Jesus’ first miracle. It is actually the place of his first two public miracles in Galilee — the changing of water into wine and the remote healing of an official’s son closeby in Capernaum.

According to a parable in the Gospel of Matthew, bridesmaids in the time of Jesus would escort the bridegroom to the marriage ceremony with lighted candles.  Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Matthew 25:1)  Light in the Roman period symbolized purity.

Church of the Miracle of the Wedding in Cana of Galilee

All the pigeons would fly by the stuffed owl to see if he was real..."Let's all go to the wedding," they are saying.

We had the most wonderful opportunity to have five couple from our group renew their wedding vows.  It was such a beautiful experience for them and us as spectators.  It was like getting married the first time with exchange of vows, ring exchange, and kissing each other.

The Bishop was a black man who had a great sense of humor

All 5 couples after renewing their marriage vows.

Some of the scenery as we drove onto our next destination - LUNCH!

It's so exciting actually seeing the Sea of Galilee, which I've heard about my whole life of course.

We are in for a treat

After a great salad bar, I got the main entree, fish from the Sea of Galilee - YUM!

Cousin John has been here before and he couldn't wait to taste the fish again.

John ordered a whole fish, but the eyeballs were not too appetizing!  Eeww!

I hurried and ate, so while everyone else was talking, I went on a quick walk along the Sea of Galilee

Pinch me now!  Am I really here?

Beautiful flowers everywhere, so I collected a few to put in my Bible.  That's ok, isn't it?  I wanted to get some little rocks to add to the collection I have started of rocks from every sea/ocean I come, BUT I FORGOT!!!!

Capernaum was a fishing village established during the time of the Hasmoneans, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It had a population of about 1,500. Archaeological excavations have revealed two ancient synagogues built one over the other. A house turned into a church by the Byzantines is said to be the home of Saint Peter.

The village was inhabited from the 2nd c. BC to the 11th c. AD, when it was abandoned sometime before the Crusader conquest. This includes the re-establishment of the village during the Early Islamic period soon after the earthquake of 749 AD

One Sabbath, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum and healed a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit 
(Luke 4:31-36)

This synagogue with its white building stones is among the oldest synagogues in the world

Afterwards, he healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law of a fever. (Luke 4:38-39)

 The designs in the rocks tell many stories, especially of the stars - 5-sided, 6-sided, 7 candle sticks or menorah

Wood carvings celebrate St. Peter's life

Steps lead up to the modern church that stands over St. Peter's home

You can peer down into the ruins of St. Peter's home through the glass floor in the center of the church

The statue in the courtyard is of St. Peter, with a caption that reads: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."

Banana Plantations along the way on our drive - oodles of them!

 I haven't had ANY bananas in the Holy Land yet.  Maybe tonight as I REALLY MISS THEM (and oatmeal!)

 Next stop - The Ancient Galilee Boat, also known as the Jesus Boat, was an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century AD, discovered in 1986 on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee.

The remains of the boat, 27 ft. long, 7.5 ft. wide and a preserved height of 4 ft), first appeared during a drought, when the waters of the Sea (actually a great fresh-water lake) receded.

Lots of time and effort for the restoration of this ancient boat

They take it out for a ride - it still floats!

If only this boat could talk!

These artifacts were found in the boat.

Let's go for a boat ride - what d'ya think?

Lloyd & Joanne are already on

The Sea of Galilee is no sea at all; it's really a very large lake.

We had fun singing along with some Israeli music that I remembered from my childhood.  "Hava Nagila" and "Shalom Havarim."  Of course, I had to sing loud and stand up and try to get others to join in.

They were selling an Israeli CD with lots of good music.  Oh yes - I bought one....can't wait to hear it all when I get back home.

The skippers give a 'thumbs up' that all is well.

Time to go back to the hotel at Tiberias.  Cousin Lloyd discouraged me from going out alone last night, so I wanted to venture out in the streets and take a look at all the history that was all around us.  (before it got dark)

Tiberias is on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Its Old City holds important Jewish and Christian pilgrimage sites including the Tomb of Maimonides and Abulafia (Etz Chaim) Synagogue. The waterfront features the restaurant-lined Yigal Allon Promenade, a marina and a fish market.

We had a very nice hotel with a good view.  This is what it looks like out my window with a veranda.  Last night I hand washed some underwear and a couple of blouses.  A huge wind came up and before I could go out and get them, a couple of pieces had floated off to Never Never Land.

The old and the new intermingle with each other

 Established around 20 AD, Tiberias was named in honor of the 2nd Emperor of the Roman Empire, Tiberius.  Tiberias was held in great respect in Judaism and since the 16th century has been considered one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities.

Coffins to hold the dead people.

The following photos were take just right next to the new hotel where we were staying.  Such great treasures only steps away from us.

I asked these young people if I could take their photos and they pantomimed that they wanted to do a selfie with me. 

Next, I went across the street to the downtown area and up into the hills.

A really strange looking dog with a really curly tail - didn't get the best photo, unfortunately.

Back to the waterfront for some more photos of antique buildings.

The Monastery belongs to the Greek Orthodox church in Jerusalem.  The site houses churches which were built in 1837 on top of the ancient ruins.  The leaning tower which is part of the monastery has become one of the symbols of the City of Tiberias.

These boys were so cute, out with their dad along the harbour.

I asked the boy's dad if people here liked having these new, fancy hotels built right alongside their historical buildings.  NO, he said, in his broken English, but it does bring in money to their economy.

Our hotel is right next door to the ancient buildings.

Families are very close here in Israel.  The young boy is wearing the kippah, Traditionally, Jewish men and boys wear the kippah at all times, a symbol of their awareness of, and submission to, a "higher" entity.

I asked a group of Jerusalem teen girls if I could video them singing.  They, in turn, wanted to video me as they taught me a song and dance.  I was with them about 30 minutes as they entertained me.  I will post the video one of these days.  It was so fun....they were delightful!

Loved these cute girls - they all knew English quite well!

Last photo from Tiberias - we leave from here in the morning