The Jordan River

Next, we attended a healing service at the octagonal church built over the foundations of a Byzantine church covering the remains of what is thought to be the house of St. Peter. Mussolini built the church, and it is run by Franciscan nuns. We were prayed over by four priests individually or in couples. My husband and I prayed for spiritual and physical health and for our grandchildren. A glass cover in the church allowed us to see down into the the ruins of Peter's house. Most of these holy sites had churches built on top in order to reverence the sites.


The name 'Capernaum' comes from 'The Village of Nahum,' but no one remembers who he was! We also visited a synagogue that was built by the centurian whose daughter was healed by Jesus. This particular centurian was a peacemaker; a good man, and a friend of the Jews.


Following a lunch of "St. Peter's Fish" (fried talipia with French fries!) we went to the Jordan River. It was raining and cold -- the cold seemed to penetrate all the way into my bones! To make it worse, there were several groups of people waiting to be baptized in the Jordan River. They were wearing white robes, and were submerged one by one in the icy waters! We renewed our Baptismal vows standing on the shore, and dipped out some water from the Jordan River. The river is narrow at this point. It begins north of the Sea of Galilee, and runs into the Dead Sea, where it ends. The Jordan Valley is fertile where the river begins, but the land becomes more barren as the river travels southward. The experience at the Jordan River was deeply touching.