Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, Israel

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"You will never read your Bible with more complete understanding than when you touch the waters of Galilee"



Our first day in Israel we docked in Haifa. It is a huge port and is the third largest city in Israel. It lies on the Western slope of Mount Carmel and descends into the Mediterranean. Near our ship there were cranes offloading container ships everywhere we looked. We began our day with a drive to the Sea of Galilee (Galilee means circle). It was here that Jesus met Simon Peter, James and John...his first disciples. He performed many miracles here: He stilled the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee that was about to swamp their boat, He walked on the stormy water to his disciples, he preached the Sermon on the Mount, and performed the miracle of the draught of fish.

"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out in the lake, while the people were along the shore at the water's edge."

Mark 4:1

We drove through Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water to wine. Then to Tabgha where he multiplied the loaves and fishes and up to "The Mount of Beatitudes" where Jesus preached his famous, "Sermon on the Mount". Our guide gathered us under an olive tree and Tom then read to us the "Beatitudes" from the bible. We spied an enormous green frog in the fountain in the garden where the loaves and fishes were multiplied. We then drove to Capernaum where Jesus spent most of his time ministering to people. We visited an ancient ruin that once housed the synagogue where Jesus prayed.

The Jordan River was next. We arrived at the Yardenit baptismal site. Pilgrims from around the world come here to perform baptismal ceremonies. My mother was baptized many years ago in the Jordan River. Many of us stuck our toes in the water but there were hundreds of huge catfish and an animal that looked like a beaver so we just took pictures.

After lunch we arrived in Nazareth, the area Jesus lived as a child. We explored the Basilica of the Annunciation (Annunciation means "Good News") which is the largest church in the Middle East. The Basilica is built over the site that the Archangel Gabriel revealed to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah.

"The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin...and the virgin's name was Mary...And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you...And behold, you will conceive in your womb an bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus"

Luke I

We made a stop at the Church of Joseph which was built over the site of Joseph's carpentry shop. It was here that the church had beautiful stained glass windows and a shrine to the Virgin Mary. "Mary's Well" is the shrine located above an ancient underground spring where it is believed Mary and Jesus drew their water.

Today, this city which sends the ancient message of peace for all humankind, is a study in religious co-existence. Over 60%!o(MISSING)f Nazareth's population is Muslim so you see both church spires and minarets along the Nazareth skyline. There are many synagogues and you can hear the bells ring out from the churches and the minarets to call for mass/prayer. It is only fitting since this is the site of the first Christian event...where it all began.

On our way home our guide took us up to Mt. Carmel. There is a magnificent view of Haifa, it's port and the neighborhoods on the slopes of Mt. Carmel. We could see our ship in port from where we stood on the top of Mt. Carmel. It is also home to the Bahai Shrine and Garden. Haifa is home to the Bahai World Centre which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. I loved Haifa and would like to go back and see more of the city.

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Photos

DSCN9312
Donated by Pope John Paul II, March 24, 2000

Donated by Pope Paul IV, January 5, 1964

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