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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 Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, in the Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, part of the North District of Israel:

The Arab village of Kafr Kana in the Lower Galilee is identified in Christian tradition as Cana of the Galilee. Here, according to tradition, Jesus performed the miracle of the wine, when he went to a wedding of a poor couple and turned water into wine. In the 17th century Kafr Kana was officially recognized by the Vatican, and the pope officially confirmed that Kafr Kana is indeed Cana of the Galilee. Following this recognition the village was added to the list of Christian holy places. Some researchers identify Kafr Kana with the Kana mentioned in the ancient Egyptian Amarna letters (from about 4,000 years ago). 

Cana Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, in the Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, part of the North District of Israel:

One way or the other, in the Roman-Byzantine period (1,000-2,000 years ago), there was a large Jewish community here, but apparently by the Mamluk period (about 800 years ago) most of the residents of Kafr Kana were Christian, although there was still a Jewish community here, too. Today most of the residents of Kafr Kana are Muslim.

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

In the center of the village are a few remains of ancient buildings and burial caves. The villagers have built new houses to the southeast and northeast of the ancient village. The most important site in the village is the Catholic Church, built in 1879, on the traditional site of the miracle of the wine. Beside this church is the Greek Orthodox church of St. George, built in 1886, which house two stone jars that Greek Orthodox followers believe are the jars in which Jesus performed the miracle of the wine.

Cana Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, in the Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, part of the North District of Israel:

There is also a church named after St. Bartholomew, built, according to tradition, on the site of the home of Nathaniel of Cana (St. Bartholomew), one of Jesus’ disciples.

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

There is also a church named after St. Bartholomew, built, according to tradition, on the site of the home of Nathaniel of Cana (St. Bartholomew), one of Jesus’ disciples.

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

Some 200,000 tourists visit Kafr Kana annually. Inspired by the miracle of the wine, a tradition has developed of holding weddings here, as well as renewing wedding vows to strengthen a marriage, and visitors customarily buy wine here. The street of the churches, in the center of the village, has been renovated and a promenade has been built, connecting the religious centers. Small plazas have been built along the promenade, with rest spots, and the facades and courtyards of the buildings have been attractively refinished. Infrastructure has been laid alongside the promenade for commercial and hotel facilities, so that visitors will be able to combine the comforts of modern tourism with their religious experience

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

In the Bible

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine.  "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 

Cana Wedding Church, where the place Couples renewing marriage vows. village of Cana, in the Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, part of the North District of Israel

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

Inside the Cana Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, North District of Israel:

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

Inside the Cana Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, North District of Israel:

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:1-11)

Inside the Cana Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, North District of Israel:

In Christianity, the transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John. In the biblical account, Jesus and his mother are invited to a wedding, and when the wine runs out, Jesus performs a miracle by turning water into wine. The exact location of Cana has been subject to debate among biblical scholars and archeologists; several villages in Galilee are candidates.

Inside the Cana Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine, village of Cana, Kafr Kanna, an Arab town in Galilee, North District of Israel:

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “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.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.