the Wedding Church

Destinations in Israel

The Wedding Church at Cana is a historic church located in the town of Kafr Kanna in northern Israel. The church is believed to be the site of the biblical miracle in which Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast in the town of Cana.


the Wedding Church
In This Photo: The Facade of the Modern Roman Catholic Wedding Church

The Wedding Church is a Catholic-Franciscan church located in Cana. The church commemorates the miracle of the wedding in a Cana that Jesus performed when he turned water into wine. In the past, there was a synagogue there. Next to the church is a Greek Orthodox church that also commemorates the event.

In the Middle Ages, Christian tradition identified Cana at Khirbet Qana, east of Yodfat Stream and Mount Atzmon. Furthermore, the site contains the remains of a church from the Crusader period, built above Byzantine remains, as well as tombs and a columbarium.


Church of Bartholomew
Church of Bartholomew
In This Photo: The Church of Bartholomew in Cana
Credit: Chris06, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Moreover, in 1551, Bonifacio Margoza reported that the Arab residents of the area pointed to the place as the site of the wedding miracle. Still, the church was already standing in ruins. This tradition has passed from the world, and today Cana is identified with the present site near Nazareth.

The archeological research revealed the remains of a private house built there between the 1st and 4th centuries. Today it’s seen once visiting the Wedding Church. In the 4th century, a synagogue was built on the site, and a cistern was dug in the center of its courtyard. Under a glass window on the church hall floor is a mosaic inscription in Aramaic, indicating the person who financed the laying of the mosaic floor in the synagogue.


The-Wedding-at-Cana
In This Photo: The Modern Church Interior.

The Modern Wedding Church

The Church is owned by the Custody of the Holy Land, part of the Franciscan order in the Catholic Church. The current church was built circa 1881 and expanded from 1897-1905, following efforts by the Franciscans to acquire the site between 1641 and 1879, when the acquisition was completed.

Twentieth-century archaeological excavations indicated that, before the current church building, the site housed a Jewish synagogue in the fourth and fifth centuries and tombs under the rule of the Byzantine Empire in the fifth and sixth centuries.

Last, in 1901, the current facade was built, and on September 30, 1906, Bishop Angelo Roncalli consecrated the altar. In the second half of the 1990s, the Holy Land began an extensive church renovation, which was completed in 1999.

apt-stamp-white@2x
arik-about

Hi! My name is Arik Haglili, an Israeli native who decided to dedicate his life to share my knowledge about the Holy Land to those that are interested to know more about this amazing piece of land. My career as a private tour guide started at the International School For the Studying of the Holocaust and the rest is history.

Did you know the Hoopoe is Israel's national bird?! For more cool info about Israel, join our ever growing community and get exclusive travel tips, and giveaways!

Simon Peter

RELATED POSTS

Ein Prat Nature Reserve

Originating close to Jerusalem and stretching all the way to Jericho before flowing into the Dead Sea in the Wadi Qelt. Ein Prat Nature Reserve is the ...

Jabotinsky Institute

The Jabotinsky Institute is an important cultural and historical center dedicated to the life and legacy of Ze'ev Jabotinsky.

Enot Tsukim

Enot Tsukim Nature Reserve is a hidden gem in Israel's heart of the Judean Desert. When touring the Judean Desert don't pass this reserve!

Rehovot

Reḥovot is a vibrant city on the coastal plain in central Israel and the heart of the country’s most productive citrus belt. The town was ...

Dolphin Reef

Have you ever wanted to swim with the dolphins? The Dolphin Reef located in the Gulf of Eilat is a utopian destination for nature lovers!

Sde Boker

Sde Boker is a kibbutz in the Negev, about 30 km from Ramon Crater. Known as the residence of David Ben-Gurion in his last years.

Botanical Gardens Tel Aviv

The Yehuda Naftali Botanical Gardens in Tel Aviv is a beautiful and unique destination for nature lovers in Tel Aviv.

Nahal Kziv Nature Reserve

Nahal Kziv Nature Reserve runs along the length of the perennial Nahal Kziv stream in Upper Galilee in northern Israel. Starting near Mount Meron, Nahal ...

Tax Museum in Jerusalem

In this post, we delve into the exhibits and highlights of the Tax Museum, uncovering the often-overlooked history and impact of taxation.

Jericho Synagogue

The Jericho synagogue (Shalom Al Yisrael Synagogue) dates to the late 6th or early 7th century CE and was discovered in Jericho in 1936.

Need help?