Thursday, March 3rd

View of from the Jezreel Valley

 



Basilica of the Annunciation

Pomegranite

Bronze Relief Doors to the Basilica

Cryt and Annunciation Cave

Dome of the Basilica

Yamika and Nativity Sets For Sale

View of Sea of Galilee and Farm Lands

Date Palms and the Sea of Galilee

Lunch at Kibbutz Ein Gev

St. Peter's Fish

Sea of Galilee from Kibbutz Ein Gev

Wild Mustard and Golan Heights

Ark of the Covenant

4th Century CE Synagogue in Capernaum

View of Sea of Galilee from Synagogue

Sea of Galilee at Capernaum

Loves and Fishes Mosaic (5th century CE)

Birds, Snake and Plants Mosaic (5th century CE)

Jordan River at Yardenit

CHEM Source Group

 

Following our usual schedule, we departed the hotel at 8:15 am for our drive to the Sea of Galilee region and a much different terrain.  We crossed into the Jezreel Valley, which was very lush compared to what we experienced yesterday.  After about an hour, we could see Nazareth on the side of the hill.  To the right Mount Tabor was very visible – a distinctive round mountain to the east of Nazareth.  We took a brief rest stop, then drove the short distance to Nazareth and proceeded to the old town area and the Basilica of the Annunciation, which is a modern church from the 1960’s.  Inside is a crypt that includes the cave of the annunciation where the angle is supposed to have appeared to Mary.  The big bronze doors depict in relief the life of Christ, with the genealogy on the left door post and the apostles on the right.   The dome of the church resembles an inverted lily from the inside.  
After leaving Nazareth, we drove for about 45 minutes before beginning our descent toward the Sea of Galilee, which is 700 feet below sea level.  This road went past date palms and orange trees with the Sea off to the left.  Across was the Golan Heights.  We will be spending the day circumnavigating the Sea and making numerous stops to see religious and historical sites.  Since it was early afternoon, we stopped at Kibbutz Ein Gev on the Sea for a fish (St. Peter’s) lunch in an outdoor area overlooking the lake. 
Our first historic stop was the ancient city of Capernaum, which is a partially restored archeological site with only a small portion of the original city exposed.  Although a very active city until 11^th century CE, it shortly thereafter was abandoned.  The location of Peter’s house and the synagogue of that period have been archeologically investigated.  On top of the original synagogue are the remains of a very large 4^th century CE synagogue with a commanding view of the Sea of Galilee.  In fact, the entire ancient city was ideally located at the northern end of the lake.  There are numerous stone carvings among the ruins that depict symbols and items of importance to life in Jerusalem.
Our next stop was at Tabgha, which is the supposed location of the story of Jesus with the two fishes and five loaves of bread feeding the 5,000.  On the top of the same hill is where purportedly gave the Sermon on the Mount; place is called the Mount of the Beatitudes.  The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes stands on the site of the ruins of a 5^th century basilica discovered by a farmer plowing his field.  He uncovered the mosaic floor from the basilica, which can be seen on a substantial section of the current basilica.  The mosaic depicts many Egyptian birds, animals, and plants and a large measuring column.  The most significant part of the mosaic is a basket containing 5 loaves of bread flanked by two fish.  Thus, the assumption is that the original church marked the site where the feeding of the 5,000 occurred. 
Our tour then took us through the large town of Tiberias, which is the largest city on the Sea of Galilee and dates from Roman times and its founding by Herod Antipus in first century CE.  It is one of the four holy cities (Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias) in Israel and was the home to numerous Jewish scholars and rabbis during that period when Jews were forbidden to live in Rome.  The next stop was the Jordan River at the baptismal site known as Yardenit, which is claimed to be where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  By this time, dusk was arriving and we started our 2 hour drive back to Tel Aviv.