Galilee — Cana and Mounts

Dear Friends,

Now, to continue about the Galilee region. Since everything was closed, Come and See was my only source of information.

Just above Tabgha, is the Eremos Hill which is probably the deserted place where Jesus would retreat to pray. Unfortunately, I did not see the “Jesus Cave,” but I did eat lunch on top of the Eremos Hill, which is also the Mount of the Beatitudes. As per usual, the church complex was closed, but next to the gate was a nice log to sit on. It was a very peaceful spot, perfect for reflecting on Matthew 5:3–10.

Looking away from the Sea of Galilee towards the inland side of the Mount of Beatitudes

A peaceful olive orchard (pretty sure they’re olives) and my dinky rental car

Looking over someone’s brush pile towards the Sea of Galilee

A peek into the church complex. The friars there must like landscape gardening because it looked beautiful from what I could see.

On my next day of adventuring, I took a friend, and we went to Mount Tabor. Mount Tabor traditionally considered to be the mountain where the Transfiguration happened (Matthew 17:1–9, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36). The Bible accounts merely say a “high mountain,” which could refer to three different mountains in the area; it could also indicate the theological rather than geographical significance of this particular even. Through the centuries, however, commemoration of the Transfiguration settled on Tabor. More certainly, it is where my favorite Old Testament lady — Deborah — accompanied the army of Barak to pray for them while they fought their oppressors (Judges 4–5). Mount Tabor is also mentioned in Hosea 5:1 and Jeremiah 46:18.

The view is spectacular from the top of the Mountain.

Gates locked by COVID-19.

This is Random locked building that might be an abandoned chapel.

This might be the view looking towards Megiddo, but I’m directionally challenged…

From there we went to Kafr Kanna which claims to be the Cana where Christ’s first public miracle happened at the prompting of Mama Mary (John 2:1–11). It is also where Nathaniel/Bartholomew is said to be from (John 21:2). The town was a crowded Arab town with closed pilgrimage souvenir shops leading up to the church. From what we could see, it looked like a pretty church.

A peek through the gate

The wall leading up to the church has the passage from John all along it.

If it had been open, we could have gotten wine from this Wedding at Cana Wine Shop.

All that is visible from the streets.

From there, we returned to Haifa. That was all I will see of the Galilee for a while.

Pax, Friends!

DS