Day of the Ruins

Today was our chance to explore all around the Sea of Galilee.

Capernaum:
So much history here! Incredibly, Peter ' s house was in continual use and had been expanded over the years to accommodate the growing gathering of believers. In the fourth century an octagonal church was built on the site which surrounded and included the original room.

Today a church is both built and suspended over the original room, and has a glass floor you can see through.

The whole town of Capernaum had been built of hewn basalt. What a spectacular sight that must have been--a jet black city set on a hill of golden waves of wheat.

As Dave and I sat there, taking in the Sea of Galilee, its waves lapping up against the stone beach reminded us of the sounds of Lake Peysenski in Park Rapids, Minnesota.

The Franciscan monks own 3/4s of Capernaum. The Greek Orthodox own the other 1/4. They haven't done much with their site except use the ancient grinding stones as flower pots. They had peacocks on their grounds, and had built a really lovely church with gorgeous frescoes and iconography inside. There was a service taking place as we entered, fascinating ritual and chants, with bells and incense, votive candles and food offerings.

Chorazim:
We pretty much had this site to ourselves. The main building was a synagogue with the seat if Moses in it. Strangely, Hellenistic motifs showed in the decorative carving, such as Medusa ' s head.

As we contemplated these ruins dozens of 'rock rabbits' came scampering out of their hiding places, the lizards came out to the sun themselves, we could hear the bees humming in the shade trees, and even saw a young fox run through.

Remember Matthew 11:20-24..."Woe to you, Chorazin..."

Magdala:
Again, we had the place to ourselves. This is where Mary Magdalena came from. Here we saw three mikvah (ancient Jewish ritual cleansing baths of 'living,' or flowing water). There was also a modern church with a gorgeous malachite floor made to resemble flowing water, with real flowing water in the backdrop. On top was a full size boat serving as altar.