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Kafr Kanna claims to be where Savior performed his first miracle
February 21st, 2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
Cana, a Galilean town five miles northeast of Nazareth, also known as Kafr Kanna or Khirbet Cana, is populated by 8,500, including both Muslims and Christians. It is believed to be site of Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding. The area has solid historical support for such a claim.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In the Bible, it is written that on the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Jesus said to the servants, to take six stone jars and "Fill the jars with water;" so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:1-11)
While the location of the Cana visited by Jesus is disputed and not known for certain, Kafr Kanna is the most traditional site and has the following factors in favor of its authenticity. It's located on the main road between two important cities in the region and is not far from Nazareth. The ruins on the site also indicate the presence of a town in the time of Jesus. In addition, the site has no running spring water, so in ancient times water would have had to be brought from cisterns or from the valley below and stored in stone jars such as those mentioned in the miracle story.
Today, the small village of Kafr Kanna is located in Lower Galilee. To visit the church, park on the side of the highway and walk down the narrow village street to the Franciscan church on the right.
The ruins of the ancient village are atop a small hill and accessible only on foot or by SUV. The hike is arduous, but rewarded with sweeping views and old ruins. The hill can be climbed from any direction.