- Address: Capernaum, Israel;
- Built: in 1925 year.
In one of the ancient cities of Israel , Capernaum, on the shore of the biblical Sea of Galilee , the modern name of which is the Sea of Galilee, there is an Orthodox cathedral of 12 apostles.
Tourists come to Capernaum for several reasons. First, the ancient history of this place does not leave travelers indifferent. Secondly, wonderful landscapes, opening almost from any point. And, thirdly, the presence of religious sites, which are one of the points of pilgrimage of Christians, especially the Orthodox world.
Church of the Twelve Apostles - description
Almost from any elevated point of Capernaum, a picturesque view of the pink-domed Church of the 12 apostles is opened, enveloped in green trees and hills. The temple belongs to the orthodox Greek Orthodox Church.
The history of the construction of the temple dates back to the end of the XIX century, when the Greek Orthodox Church of the Jerusalem Patriarchate purchased land in the eastern part of Capernaum, where, according to legend, Jesus Christ preached and predicted the death of this city. Long this land was empty, and only in the 20-ies of the twentieth century under the Greek patriarch Damian I began the construction of a church in the east of the ruins of an ancient city. The church and the monastery were erected by 1925.
Later, in 1948, after Israel gained independence, the monastic territory with the church ended up on the border Syrian-Israeli land. Due to the conflict between the two countries, the temple and the monastery came to desolation, as the monks could not live near the border, and the pilgrims stopped visiting this place. As a result, the Church of the 12 apostles was turned into a barn by the local Arab tribe of the Druze.
Until 1967, the desolation of the monastery continued, and after a six-day war, when the Israeli border moved to the Golan Heights, the Greek church regained the land on which the temple and the monastery is located. The temple of the 12 apostles was in a deplorable and defiled state, the floor was covered with a thick layer of sewage and manure, the frescoes were almost completely erased, the glass was knocked out, the icons were completely lost. The whole was only the iconostasis of 1931, built of stone.
The temple was restored almost 25 years. In 1995, the Greek artist and icon painter Konstantin Dzumakis began a great work on the restoration of lost frescoes and wall paintings. In 2000, with the assistance of UNESCO, a water supply system was installed in the church.
Church of the Twelve Apostles - tourist value
The territory of the monastery, spread around the Church 12 apostles - a picturesque place off the coast of the Sea of Galilee. This is truly a place for reflection, contemplation and solitude. The building of the church is built in the classical Greek style with a slight difference in the color of the domes. The temple has 12 apostles dome is not blue, but pink, which perfectly harmonizes with the color of the sky and the surface of the water at sunset and dawn, creating an idyllic picture of harmony. On the territory of the church you can meet many Christian symbols of faith, neatly inscribed in the general landscape. Three fishes that form unity are an ancient Christian symbol, which is decorated with vases for flowers, stone columns and fences.
Since the late 90-ies of the twentieth century, pilgrims began to visit this place. From the courtyard of the church, an incredible view of the waters of the Sea of Galilee opens. The renewed decoration of the church is solemn and peaceful. After the service and prayer, you can stroll through the garden of the Church 12 apostles, which is decorated with small statuettes and in which peacocks freely walk. The paradise on the Orthodox land attracts tourists with its seclusion and a special atmosphere.
How to get there?
To get to the city of Capernaum, where the Church of the 12 apostles is located, you can take the public buses that go on the highway number 90.