Wednesday, September 11. We
had arrived at the Sea of Galilee yesterdrday afternoon
and visited the Capernaum area before checking in to our
hotel. This morning we joined our group for the breakfast buffet at 7:00. The bus left at
8:15 and took us a couple miles north to a pier at Ginosar where we boarded a fair-sized boat for
a one hour cruise on the Sea of Galilee. There was a heavy mist that gradually dispersed as we
sailed. The engine was very loud, but we spent much of the time just drifting, so it was quiet then.
Then the various pastors addressed us and there was spirited group singing and dancing. The hour
passed very quickly.
Setting out |
Song |
View of west bank |
Us on the Sea of Galilee |
Dance |
Fisherman |
Fishing boat from Jesus' time |
Back on shore, the bus took us to the Yigal Allon Centre in Ginosar,
right next to our hotel. A small museum there featured a small fishing boat from
first century A.D. It was discovered in 1986 when a drought lowered the water in the Sea of
Galilee. Some think this boat “may have been” one used by Jesus’ apostles.
At about 10:00, the bus dropped us off at the Primacy
of Peter Catholic Church, a Franciscan church located in Tabgha. It
commemorates, and allegedly marks the spot of Jesus' designation of Peter as
chief among the Apostles. The modern structure was built in 1933 and
incorporates parts of an earlier fourth century church. Before we entered
the church, our group stopped in a shady grove outside where Pastor Keller
led us in prayer.
Entrance to grounds |
Church seen from grove |
Jane at Church |
Our bus then took us a short distance south to Magdala (Migdal), where we arrived at 11:15. We
spent most of our time there at the excavated ruins of a first century A.D. synagogue. The ruins
were discovered by accident when a large hotel was being built on the site. The foundation walls
and some of the original mosaic floors have been uncovered.
Mosaics among the ruins |
Shawnee describes the mosque |
Layout of the mosque |
An adjacent area of the old village
has also been excavated, too. To the rear of the excavation, we visited a very modern Catholic
church that has a small fishing boat for its altar.
