Simon Peter's Old Residence, Capernaum

This blog is a continuation of the recent entry on the Tour of Israel in late May to early June 2014 (Read here). 

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On 28 May 2014, we visited Kfar Nahum, a town where Capernaum once stood. Thousands of visitors come here to visit the ruins of Capernaum where Simon Peter was said to have lived.

Capernaum is also being referred as the Town of Jesus because he was believed to have stayed in Peter's home and worshipped at the nearby synagogue.

Simon Peter, before being called by Jesus to become a disciple was a fisherman by profession. Naturally, he and his family were expected to live close to the Sea of Galilee. By tradition, the present site of the St. Peter's Church in Capernaum is recognized as Peter's residence he once stayed. This modern Roman Catholic Pilgrimage Church is built on top of the residence of Simon Peter. This site is part of the archeological site of Capernaum. The ruins are evident that this was once a thriving settlement in Biblical time.

Capernaum which is situated at the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee is a lake side settlement. Under St. Peter Church, an old structure of octagonal shape is still visible. This is said to be the Byzantine martyrium structure built in the first century AD. Excavation indicated that a residential structure once occupied the central region of this octagonal structure. That old residential structure is said to have been erected in early Roman period around 63 BC. It is inferred that Jesus had lived in this residence which is close to a synagogue.

The St. Peter's Church built over Peter's former residence.

Ruins adjacent to St. Peter's Church.

The octagonal profile of an old structure under the Church.

At the centre of the octagonal structure.

Current google view of St. Peter's Church.

Interior of St. Peter's Church. 

Courtesy of Tekton Ministries website.

A statute of Peter.

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In the Gospel of Luke 4:16, it narrates an account of Jesus going into a synagogue. It reads, "Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue.....".

We visited the ruins of an impressive structure said to be the Great Synagogue from the 4th century AD. Archeological excavation revealed that synagogue had been rebuilt and modified over the site since Jesus' time. Some claimed that the initial foundation seen below the ruins of the Great Synagogue may have been the 1st century synagogue where Jesus had taught.

At the front of the ruins of the Great Synagogue.

The different stones texture between layers clearly indicates construction of different eras.

Interior of the Great Synagogue.