My Pilgrimage: June 9

This report is going to be quick because I’m tired, and it works because we are not allowed to write about part of our day.  I will start by saying that my ankle was nearly back to normal when I woke up, so I had no problems walking around today.  Yeah!  So it was an introduction to archeology day, where we visited Magdala, our site for excavation next week.  They have uncovered a 1^st Century Synagogue there, with a one of a kind find.  In it was a large stone carved to represent the Temple.  Speculation is it may have served as a secondary Temple site.  They have a substantial chapel there, which I have mixed feelings about.  Two things, specifically.  They have icons for the twelve apostles, including Judas.  Now, they say “it’s not an icon,” and he does not have a halo, but the background is still gold, which does represent heaven (“we are not going to condemn him”).  I’m not a fan of that.  If you want to represent him, maybe a green background or something, but not gold!  Second, the altar is a boat.  It’s tacky and not really appropriate.  But I digress.  It should be a good place to dig.  Also, I met an Aggie there on a separate pilgrimage.  He’s a senior, so quite young, but still nice to talk with another Aggie (we’re everywhere).

Recreation of the Temple stone

Frescoes on the Synagogue walls

The objectionable Judas is the second closest image

We came back to the hotel for a picnic lunch and a tiny break before heading back out.  In the afternoon, we visited the 1^st Century boat uncovered in the Sea of Galilee.  It’s pretty cool to think that, while there is no way to connect it directly with Jesus, it’s probably similar to what they would have used.  We then took a short ride out on the Sea of Galilee on a boat.  It was neat to see some of the sites from a new perspective, while imagining the number of times Jesus and the apostles would have sailed on those same waters.

Our boat

Mount of Beatitudes

Arbel Cliff on left

We then had Mass at a Crusader church called St. Peter’s.  It’s very close to our hotel down on the seashore.  It’s a nice little church, and continues to have daily Mass.  We even noticed they have a Mass on Sunday in Russian.  Some of the details were pretty cool, including windows behind the altar that are keys.