On the north shore of the Sea of Galilee you can find an ancient fishing village called Capernaum.
The name comes from the Hebrew words 'Kfar Nahum', which literally means Nahum's village.
It is most famous as the place in which Jesus lived, performed miracles and healed people. Among the miracles Jesus performed are healing a person without even seeing him and calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee. However, Jesus also condemned the village, saying in essence it is worse than Sodom.
On the site you can find the ruins of a synagogue and a church that stand close to each other and to the shore. It is quite possible that the room within the church is the house of Peter – where Jesus lived. In other words, the ancient church was built around the house of Peter.
In 1968 St. Peter’s house was discovered. In 1990 the Franciscans built a church on top of the ancient church. It is somewhat futuristic in appearance. The new church is elevated above the ancient one, and it has a glass floor to enable you to see the ancient church below it.
There is also a Greek Orthodox church not too far.
If you are visiting the Sea of Galilee, especially if you are Christian – but not necessarily – this is one place you will find quite interesting.
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