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"Cana Wedding Church"

Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna

Galilee, North District of Israel

Thursday, ‎December ‎26, ‎2013

Sixth Day of my Holy Land Trip, Mount Zion, Jerusalem

My Holy Land Trip

"Cana Wedding Church"

Cana Wedding Church, where the place Couples renewing marriage vows. Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, Northern District of Israel:

 In the Christian New Testament, the Gospel of John refers a number of times to a town called Cana of Galilee. The marriage at Cana Main article: Marriage at Cana Among Christians and other students of the New Testament, Cana is best known as the place where, according to the Fourth Gospel, Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of a large quantity of water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11 ) when the wine provided by the bridegroom had run out. Although none of the synoptic gospels records the event, mainstream Christian tradition holds that this is the first public miracle of Jesus.

However in John's gospel it has considerable symbolic importance: it is the first of the seven miraculous "signs" by which Jesus's divine status is attested, and around which the gospel is structured. It is still a matter of discussion among theologians whether the story talks of an actual material transformation of water into wine, or is a spiritual allegory. Interpreted allegorically, the good news and hope implied by the story is in the words of the Governor of the Feast when he tasted the good wine, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10, NRSV). This could be interpreted by saying simply that it is always darkest before the dawn, but good things are on the way. 

Cana Wedding Church, where the place Couples renewing marriage vows. Believers preparing for renewal of their marriage vows. Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, Northern District of Israel:

The more usual interpretation, however, is that this is a reference to the appearance of Jesus, whom the author of the Fourth Gospel regards as being himself the good wine. The story has had considerable importance in the development of Christian pastoral theology. The gospel account of Jesus being invited to a wedding, attending, and using his divine power to save the celebrations from disaster are taken as evidence of his approval for marriage and earthly celebrations, in contrast to the more austere views of Saint Paul as found, for example, in 1 Corinthians 7. It has also been used as an argument against Christian teetotalism.

Other references to Cana - The other biblical references to Cana are in John 4:46, which mentions Jesus is visiting Cana when he is asked to heal the son of a royal official at Capernaum; and John 21:2, where it is mentioned that the apostle Nathanael (usually identified with the Bartholomew included in the synoptic gospels' lists of apostles) comes from Cana. Cana of Galilee is not mentioned in any other book of the Bible, or in any other contemporary source. Locating Cana - There has been much speculation about where Cana might have been.

Cana Wedding Church, where the place Couples renewing marriage vows. Believers preparing for renewal of their marriage vows. Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, Northern District of Israel:

In his Gospel, the author makes no claim to have been at the wedding himself. Some Christians regard the story of the wedding at Cana as having more theological than historical or topographical significance, but most do not. Likewise, some (but not all) modern scholars hold that the Fourth Gospel was addressed to a group of Jewish Christians, and, very possibly, a group living in Judea. There are four villages in Galilee which are candidates for biblical Cana: Kafr Kanna, Israel; Kenet-el-Jalil, Israel; Ain Kana, Israel; and Qana, Lebanon. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914, a tradition dating back to the 8th century identifies Cana with the modern Arab town of Kafr Kanna, about 7 km northeast of Nazareth, Israel. 

However more recent scholars have suggested alternatives, including the ruined village of Kenet-el-Jalil (also known as Khirbet Kana), about 9 km further north, and Ain Kana, which is closer to Nazareth and considered by some to be a better candidate on etymological grounds. The village of Qana, in southern Lebanon, is another candidate for the location. Many Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, believe the village to be the correct site. This is not a matter on which certainty is ever likely to be achieved.

Cana Wedding Church, where the place Couples renewing marriage vows. Believers preparing for renewal of their marriage vows. Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, Northern District of Israel:

Location of Cana There is four villages in Galilee which are candidates for biblical Cana: 1.Kafr Kanna, Israel; 2.Kenet-el-Jalil, Israel; 3.Ain Kana, Israel; and 4.Qana, Lebanon. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914, a tradition dating back to the 8th century identifies Cana with the modern Arab town of Kafr Kanna, about 7 km northeast of Nazareth, Israel. However more recent scholars have suggested alternatives, including the ruined village of Kenet-el-Jalil (also known as Khirbet Kana), about 9 km further north, and Ain Kana, which is closer to Nazareth and considered by some to be a better candidate on etymological grounds. The village of Qana, in southern Lebanon, is another candidate for the location. Many Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, believe the village to be the correct site. This is not a matter on which certainty is ever likely to be achieved.

Cana Wedding Church, where the place Couples renewing marriage vows. Believers renew their marriage vows. Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, Northern District of Israel:

The Marriage at Cana Among Christians and other students of the New Testament, Cana is best known as the place where, according to the Fourth Gospel, Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of a large quantity of water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11) when the wine provided by the bridegroom had run out (see Jars of Cana). Although none of the synoptic gospels records the event, mainstream Christian tradition holds that this is the first public miracle of Jesus. However in John's gospel it has considerable symbolic importance: it is the first of the seven miraculous "signs" by which Jesus's divine status is attested, and around which the gospel is structured.

It is still a matter of discussion among theologians whether the story talks of an actual material transformation of water into wine, or is a spiritual allegory. Interpreted allegorically, the good news and hope implied by the story is in the words of the Governor of the Feast when he tasted the good wine, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10, NRSV). This could be interpreted by saying simply that it is always darkest before the dawn, but good things are on the way. The more usual interpretation, however, is that this is a reference to the appearance of Jesus, whom the author of the Fourth Gospel regards as being himself the good wine. 

A picture of History, where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana:

The story has had considerable importance in the development of Christian pastoral theology. The gospel account of Jesus being invited to a wedding, attending, and using his divine power to save the celebrations from disaster are taken as evidence of his approval for marriage and earthly celebrations, in contrast to the more austere views of Saint Paul as found, for example, in 1 Corinthians 7. 

It has also been used as an argument against Christian teetotalism. Other references to Cana The other biblical references to Cana are in John 4:46, which mentions Jesus is visiting Cana when he is asked to heal the son of a royal official at Capernaum; and John 21:2, where it is mentioned that the apostle Nathanael (usually identified with the Bartholomew included in the synoptic gospels' lists of apostles) comes from Cana. Cana of Galilee is not mentioned in any other book of the Bible, or in any other contemporary source.

The archaeological excavation below the Wedding Church at Cana. This is the place where stone water jar were filled by water, which Jezus changed into the wine:

Travel to Cana Christian Israel tours often visit wonderful sites such as Cana because of the rich first-hand experience they provide those who pilgrim to Israel to see for themselves the places they have only been able to read about. Cana, the Arab village of Kafr Cana located in Lower Galilee, is often referred to as Cana of the Galilee. It is the place where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine.

Kafr Cana was officially recognized by the Vatican in the 17th century, being confirmed by the pope that Kafr Cana is the same as Cana of the Galilee. As a result, Cana was added to the list of holy places in the Christian faith, which increased its popularity amongst tours to the Holy Land. There was a large Jewish population here in the Roman-Byzantine period (1-2 millennia ago), but this changed by the Mameluke period (800 years ago) and the majority of residents were Christians by this time.

There are still a few remains from ancient buildings and burial caves in the center of the village, though the villagers have built new houses to the southeast and northeast. Arguably the most important site is the Catholic Church which was built in 1879 on the site where the water was turned to wine. Next to this church is the Greek Orthodox church of St. George, which was built in 1886 and supposed contains the stone jars which followers believed held the miraculous wine. A third church was built on the site where Jesus’ disciple Bartholomew’s house stood. 

This is a stone water jar in the lower part of the archaeological excavation below the Wedding Church at Cana,  Israel:

In commemoration of the miraculous changing of water to wine at the wedding in Cana, it has become a popular destination wedding site as a result. Known for its archaeological sites, wine and miraculous history, Cana is a popular and wonderful site to add to your Israel tour. John Chapter 2:1-11 1 On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 

Street, from the Cana Wedding Church, Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, North District of Israel:

Travel to The Wedding Church in Cana Tours to the Holy Land often take time to visit the Wedding Church in Cana. Located just outside of Nazareth, this is the location of the first miracle performed by Jesus during a wedding feast in which he turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). The Wedding Church was built in the 19th century by Franciscans to commemorate this event. It is said in the scriptures that the water used by Jesus was “the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing” (John 2:6) and was stored in jars of stone. It has become a modern tradition for couples to renew their vows or propose in Cana as the Wedding Church has great symbolism—a must-see during your tour to the Holy Land.

The location of the Cana visited by Jesus is disputed and not known for certain. Kafr Kanna is the most traditional site and has the following factors in favor of its authenticity:

However, recent excavations on a hill just north of Nazareth have uncovered ruins of a Jewish village from the 1st century AD. The excavators think the biblical Cana could be there instead of at this site 1 km to the east.

A wine shop, especially for Cana wedding wine, on the main street, Cana, Kafr Kanna:

History records that a church was built in Cana by Empress Helena (mother of Constantine) in the 4th century, and this was identified with the remains of a large building found by travellers to Kafr Kanna in the 17th century.

Recent excavations have uncovered ruins of houses from the 1st-4th centuries AD, of a 5th-century atrium with portico, a Christian funerary building from the 5th or 6th century, and a medieval building

A Street, on the way to Cana Wedding Church, Village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, North District of Israel: 

The land at Kafr Kanna was sold by the lord of Sidon to the Knights Hospitallers in 1254. The Franciscans became established here in 1641 and began building the present church over an older church in 1879. It was consecrated in 1883.

The Franciscan Wedding Church at Cana is small and fronted by a courtyard. The facade has angel figures and is flanked by two bell towers and over an arcades narthex.

A general view of Kafr Kanna:

Inside, the church has two levels. The upper church has a chapel surmounted by a simple dome. In the nave just before the stairs is a fragment of a Byzantine mosaic dating from the 5th or 6th century and preserves the name of the donor in Aramaic: "In memory of the pious Joseph, son of Tanhum, son of Bota and of his children who made this table, may it be for them a blessing, Amen."

The lower church has a chapel and a small museum with artifacts from the site, including a winepress, a plastered cistern and vessels of various dates. One old jar is said to be one of the six jars used for the miracle.

Opposite the Franciscan church is a Greek Orthodox church, which is usually closed. Two 13th-century capitals are displayed near it.

The ruins of ancient Cana are on top of a small rounded hill rising 60m above the plain. They can be seen on the eastern slope (Byzantine and early Arabic), around the top slopes, and on the peak (mostly Greek and Roman).