Perillo Tours

About two miles south of Tiberias is the lakeside town of Capernaum.  Like so much in Israel, it is also known by a number of other names:  Tell Hum, Khirbet Karazeh, Bethsaida, Capharnaum, Chorazin, Kefar Nahum, Kafarnaum, Kefar Tanhum, Talhum,Tanhum.

Capernaum is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but archaeological evidence indicates settlement as early as the 2nd century BC through about AD 750. In the New Testament, Capernaum figures prominently as the home of apostles Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew, as well as Jesus himself and his mother, Mary.  It was in Capernaum that Jesus is said to have healed several people.

Archeological finds in the area include a block of homes from about the 1st century BC which appear to have been inhabited for about 5 centuries. Archeologists believe that one of the houses was the house of Peter the fisherman, and later two churches were built on the site, the latter an octagonal Byzantine church complete with a baptistery.

A stone synagogue at which Jesus is said to have preached has walls that are 4 feet thick. These earlier walls were preserved and were used as the foundation for a later synagogue on the site.

Today the ruins are owned by two churches; Franciscans control the western side and the synagogue, while the white church with red domes is operated by Greek Orthodox church.